The three best sellers according to records reported by a section of the online business community were

1. Shove Halfpenny.

Shove halfpenny is a wooden board game that has been a popular pastime for centuries. In medieval England it was such a popular gambling game that the board had to be kept in a room at the back of the Inn so that only trustworthy customers could play. King Henry the VIII of England was a regular player, and history records that even he had to lay out significant sums of money to courtiers who had the skill (and no small amount of courage) to beat him.

2. Backgammon.

Backgammon has been played by Ancient Civilisations, including the Egyptians and can be dated back to 3000BC. Many civilisations had games that would combine the use of dice and markers to play territorial “war” games where opponents were able to develop strategies of defence and attack. However, by the 18th Century it became very popular among English clergy.

3. Chess.

Chess dates back to 2000BC in India and Persia and was known as chaturanga. The original Chess Pieces were of carved Horses, Chariots, Elephants and Infantry Soldiers. Chess as we now know it came in to being about 2000 years ago.

Throughout history some form of board game has been played as a leisure pastime by most civilised societies. Some were even being played before the civilisation had developed their literacy skills. The same basic concepts exist today and many of the ancient board games have transformed into the ones that we play today.

Wood as a material was abundant in most regions and was commonly used as a material of choice and has the benefit of great longevity and style.

Many of these traditional wooden board games are seeing a revival in popularity today due to the keenness of parents to provide an alternative to electronic games.

By Liz Bowen
Article Marketing Manager at Gifts and Presents, an online business specialising in quality gifts and presents for all the family.

Liz Bowen is a member of the marketing team for Gifts and Presents, an online business specialising in quality gifts.

Liz is passionate about traditional wooden board games. This probably stems from spending many hours as a child playing these games with friends and family. To find a selection of the finest traditional wooden board games on the market, visit www.gifts-presents.co.uk today.