Guide to Indoor Games

How Games Began

While JJ One (as the family refer to him) will always be recognized for his major contribution to chess, the subject of a subsequent chapter, the son was undoubtedly his father's equal in imagination, craftsmanship and enterprise.

indoor games compendium

For most of the 1800's Jaques were developing and introducing new indoor games, many of which, such as Hit-a-Pin Bagatelle, Happy Families and Shove Halfpenny, are still very popular today.
There are many others such as Squails, Ascot and Minoru which are no longer made but are in the process of being Re-introduced for families to play

John II's (John Jaques the second) originality and business acumen were rewarded with the Freedom of the City of London in 1869. This was richly deserved, for this same man who lightened long evenings with new and clever indoor pursuits also taught the world to play croquet

Jaques Snakes and Ladders

Chutes and ladders vintage board game

The game of snakes and ladders was played in ancient India by the name of Moksha Patamu. This game can date right back to the 16th century. John Jaques transformed the game and created the Board Game of Snakes and Ladders. This was launched in the 1890's to great success.
It has Recently been Relaunched. you can BUY a reproduction HERE

Jaques Inventing Happy Families
Tenniel's memorable drawings of Mr Bun the Baker, Mr Grits the Grocer and so on, are at the heart of children's enjoyment of Happy Families. It was John II's foresight to commission him at an early stage in his career. Tenniel would later become Sir John Tenniel as a result of a truly illustrious career as chief cartoonist of Punch. Tenniel, of course, also brought Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland so vividly to life.

In fact, Lewis Carroll's grandniece, Irene Dodgson, married the widowed John Jaques III, not only consolidating this literary connection, but furthering it with her own artistic contribution. Irene created four new characters for Jaques Happy Families.

Antique Happy Families
Pictured Below are some of the Vintage indoor Happy families Playing cards

Jaques Tiddledy Winks

At Jaques we rightfully lay claim to the success of tiddledy winks.

Tiddledy winks games

We exclusivey Transformed the game from an unknown to a globally recognised past time.
Tiddledy Winks was one of the most popular crazes during the 1890s and Jaques records claim that we produced in excess of 100,000 pieces during this time. The Game was played by adults and children.

For Many years many different varieties of the game were produced all trying to cash in on Jaques Success. Family Legend speaks of a huge legal case against a Game which was an exact copy, this copy was called Spoof. The public perception of the game changed in 1955 when it was taken up as competitive sport at Cambridge university.

Making Indoor Games Today

Making games by hand at Jaques

Many games from Jaques' current catalogue are still very popular as British pub games and we continue today to introduce new games such as Carpet Bowls and Roulette sets and reintroduce some of our original games such as Bagatelle, Crokinole and Step Quoits.

Trumps Bagatelle and Hit a Pin Bagatelle games

At the Jaques family Company we have makers and craftsman currently manufacturing Four variations of This Fantastic game.
Jaques' Hit-a-Pin Bagatelle is handcrafted from hardwood, mahogany and brass to the same design as supplied to Queen Victoria.

We also make Trumps Bagatelle, a new larger bagatelle version of the original game based on the Victorian version of the game. The Trumps version includes cards and a double trump feature.

Wooden Backgammon Game Boards

backgammon boards for games indoors

At Jaques We Make 4 Indoor versions of the Classic Backgammon game.
At the top end of the range is the 19" Oak backgammon, the ultimate Games Board.
There is the 15" Luxury Mahogany set which features a solid mahogany frame with walnut and sycamore inlaid points.
A Great Set for Home Play is the 15" Oak Backgammon set.
Perfect for playing games on the move, we also have the 11" Travel version of the game.
All the above sets also includes regulation playing pieces, two leatherette dicecups, dice set and Backgammon rules book.

Checkers and draughts Sets

Checkers Set

There are many variants of the game of Checkers or Draughts across the world but the English game is played on a chessboard (or sometimes called draughtsboard) by two players sitting opposite each other.

Buy Draughts and Checkers sets in our Online Indoor Games Store

The Future of indoor Games...

Despite TV and video games, the appetite for craftsmen-made wooden family games of all types, grows apace. Sales of indoor Games continue to grow at Jaques as many more Indoor Games are added to the range.