Object number
68/241/1-38
Title
Knur and spell,
Exhibition
Description
This is a recreational game call knur and spell, possibly originating from Lancashire Played by hitting small wooden and ceramic balls (knurs) with club when thrown into air by spring-loaded device (the spell). For information on this game, see article 'Knur & Spell and Allied Games' by F. Atkinson, in Folk Life, vol.1, 1963, p.43-65.
Physical description
1 game: 38 items including storage box and lid; wood; metal; ceramic; hessian
Label Text
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>4. <B>Knur and Spell</B><P>Whereas a game like dominoes would be played throughout the country, others, such as the ball game called Knur and Spell, were specific to particular regions. Knur and Spell was traditionally played in the northern English counties. There are variations on the game's name: in Lincolnshire, for example, it is called Nurspel, whilst in the coalfields of Yorkshire, where the game was particularly popular during the latter years of the nineteenth century, it was referred to as collier's golf. For the game to be played three pieces of equipment are required, a spell (pictured), a knur (ball) and a long-handled pummel used to hit the knur. The game would attract large crowds who came to support either one of the two competing players. Each player in turn struck the spell with the pummel. This action launched the knur up into the air, at which point the player then hit the knur as far as he could with the pummel. The greater the distance achieved the more points the player would receive. After twenty shots the player who had accumulated the most points was declared the winner.<P>For further details about the game's equipment and rules of play see Atkinson, F., 'Knur and Spell and Allied Games' in <I>Folk Life</I>, vol. 1, 1963, pp. 43-65.<P>68/241</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
Archival history
MERL ‘Handwritten Catalogue’ form - ‘Knur and spell game // Society Recreation games // Purchased, R Warner, Burford, Oxon // Wood. 18 wooden Balls, 8 ceramic, piece of chalk, cloth bag [pencil drawing].’, MERL Miscellaneous note - See YouTube video by Museum Curator Gordon Dempster at Waterperry Gardens where he explains the game of knur and spell https://youtu.be/kUEFuyGRRPQ
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_9482.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_9483.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_9484.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_9486.tif - High resolution image