A New or Improved Game of Skill.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application. 17th May, 1892-Accepted, 9th July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Game of Skill.
I BYROM HOLLAND of S. Andrews Clergy House Great Grimsby Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to a new or improved game of skill which I will call
"Castles" and can be either played out of doors on an ordinary lawn or indoors on
a suitable table.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1. is a diagram shewing the arrangement of the various hoops and "castles"
used in playing the game.
Fig. 2 is an elevation and Fig. 3 a plan of a " castle."
Fig. 4. are two views of one of the hoops.
Fig. 5 shews a view of a "castle" such as used when the game is played indoors
on a table, and
Fig. 6 shews two views of a corresponding hoop.
The game is played with the aid of balls and of mallets of any suitable con-
struction; the balls being made of wood or other hard substance.
The hoops under which the balls must be propelled with the mallet have the
form shewn in Fig. 4, being terminated by two sharply pointed ends so that they
may be easily forced into the ground.
The "castles" which are preferably of cylindrical shape are made of wire netting
or trellis work and are provided with an opening forming a passage for the balls,
being moreover open at the top and furnished with two or more spikes (Figs. 2 and 3)
whereby they may be readily forced into the ground.
When the game is carried on indoors, and played on a suitable table covered with
baize or otherwise the "castles" used have no spikes (Fig. 5) but are flat at the
bottom and may be formed with a strip of zinc bent in the manner shewn and
provided with an opening as aforesaid. The hoops (Fig. 6) are furnished with
feet so that they may conveniently stand on the table. As shewn on Fig. 1 the
game which is played on a lawn of suitable size consists of eight hoops arranged in
the order shewn five of these hoops being accompanied by a "castle" placed in
close proximity thereto so that no ball may pass between the two. There are eight
hoops h
&c. and five " castles C
etc. and the balls are propelled in
the direction indicated by the arrows either through the hoops or into the castles.
The rules according to which my improved game of "Castles" is played are as
follows:
"
.....
(1) Five balls are used on each side these balls being distinguished from one
another by the number of rings formed thereon and from the balls played with by
the opponent, by their different colors.
(2) A ball is termed "qualified" when it has passed through all successive hoops
in the order indicated in Fig. 1. including that which adjoins the "castle" bearing
the same number as the said ball, each ball bearing a number corresponding to one
of the "castles."
A ball is termed a "rover" when it has passed through all the hoops in successive
order.
"
A ball is termed a "wanderer" when it bears a number corresponding to au
opponents ball which is already in possession of a
"castle.
No ball is recognised as being in possession of a "castle" which does not
correspond to its number or when it is not "qualified."

page_text: (3) The balls must be played in successive order the first number of one colour
commencing while the first number of the other side follows and so on.
(4) Every ball must start from a "spot" at a distance of two feet or thereabouts
from the centre of the first and foremost hoop>
(5) When a ball is propelled through its corresponding hoop its player is entitled
to another stroke.
(6) When a ball hits another ball, it must be picked up and placed when it has
ceased to roll, by the side of the ball which it has just struck when it may be
propelled anew with the mallet.
(7) If after a ball has rolled through its proper hoop or knocked off another ball
as set forth in the preceeding paragraph the same ball hits another ball it may be
counted as a hit or the ball may be hit again.
3..
(8) A player may not hit the same ball twice unless it has first passed through a
hoop.
(9) When a ball occupies its proper "castle" it cannot be expelled therefrom or
otherwise used unless as per rule 12.
(10) A ball is deemed to have passed through a hoop or entered a
"castle"
when no part of its circumference protrudes beyond a line drawn outside the
entrance to this boop or "castle" but should it rebound out of the. "castle" after
being well inside the same or be accidentally expelled by another ball, it may be
replaced therein.
(11) Should a ball enter a "castle" which does not bear a corresponding number
or enter its own "castle" before being fully "qualified" whether impelled therein
by its player or by the opponents ball it must be left therein until released or
expelled by another ball from either side when it is placed on the starting spot
and recovers its qualifications-the rescuing ball may then be left in the "castle"
or be placed by the side of the rescued ball when it can be knocked off the latter
as before stated.
(12) A ball entering another "castle" than its own loses its turn, but if it is
the qualified possessor thereof it may be placed by the player at a distance of three
mallet heads from any side of the "castle" and played from there. The "wanderer"
has then a chance of gaining possession of the "castle" if "qualified."
(13) Not more than one ball may be in a "castle" the last comer setting the
foriner free. If a ball is pushed into a "castle" by another it must remain a
prisoner therein and any ball already in must be placed on the starting spot unless
it is in its own "castle" in which case the last comer must be placed on the starting
spot.
(14) When a ball is pushed into a "castle" by another which enters this castle
at the same time the latter remains a prisoner & the former is placed on the starting
spot.
"
(15) If a ball hits another and enters a
"castle at the same stroke, it may be
brought back to be knocked off the ball which it had hit.
(16) Should a ball roll out of the ground it must be replaced in position at a
distance of 3 mallets heads within the boundary line at the place where it
went out.
"
(17) The players play their balls in turn and in successive order the game
being ended when all the "castles are occupied by their proper corresponding
balls or when one side has secured a sufficient number of points to debar the other
from the possibility of winning. Thus, if one side has secured the first two
"castles," and either of the last two, it has won the game. Or if one side has
secured the first three "castles," and has two "rovers," the other side cannot win,
but if one side has only secured the first three "castles" and its other two balls are
not "rovers" there is a possibility of the other side winning by securing the last
two "castles" and having three "rovers" and "wanderers." In case of a tie in
the game the latter is declared in favour of the side which is in possession of three
" castles."

page_text: (18) The score is made by a ball if "qualified" occupying the "castle" whose
number corresponds with its own. The first "castle" counts 6 points, the second 7
the third eight the fourth 9 and the fifth 10, one point being allowed for each
"rover" which is also a "wanderer."
"
As my improved game is capable of some modifications without departing from
the principle thereof I do not restrict myself to materials, dimensions, or to the
precise form or placement of the several parts thereof.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
A new or improved game of "Castles" substantially as herein described and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of May 1882.
F. G. CASSELL,
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London,
Agent for the Applicant.