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This is a wooden board consisting of a circular base with eight depressions linked by ink lines for playing a marble game. This was played with by the donor on the early 20th century in Cleeve, Oxfordshire.

1 board for marble game: wooden; good condition

MERL Object Handling Research, Rachael Rogers, December 2019 - 'This is a wooden board consisting of a circular base with eight depressions linked by ink lines for playing a marble game. // It is unknown which game this board would have been used, however it is likely that it was a game involving the elimination of another players’ marbles, with the lines acting as guides for justified moves. // Again it is unknown what age range may have used this game, but games like this have, historically, been used by both children and adults. Games of chance and luck are firm favourites of children and adults, who would often add a gambling and betting element to such games. // Wooden board games such as this have a long history. Indeed it is thought that chess originated as early as the 6th century while Chinese Checkers originated in Germany in 1892 under the name ‘Stern-Halma’. Whilst this board was played with by the donor in the early 20th century, there is no further information known regarding its history. For this reason it is difficult to date its use precisely. // The MERL’s collection holds a wide variety of games, including cribbage boards, boules, playing cards, and a knur and spell game. Once a popular pub game, Knur and Spell is thought to have originated in Lancashire at the start of the 14th century, reaching its peak of popularity during the 18th and 19th centuries. It is played by hitting small ceramic and wooden balls (Knurs) with a club when thrown into the air by the spring-loaded device (spell). MERL object 68/241/1-38 was acquired by the Museum in 1967, and more information about it and the game can be found in the article 'Knur & Spell and Allied Games' by F. Atkinson, in Folk Life, vol.1, 1963, p.43-65.', MERL Catalogue Form (temporary) – ‘Wooden board for marble game // whole wood// Wood varnished, 8 depressions round edge linked with ink lines // User- Mrs M. Murray, Goring. Early 20th century // Mrs Murray Cleeve, Oxon’