Donated items 2016-17

In April 2017 a letter written by Sidney Smith was kindly donated to the Collection by Mr. M. Barnett. He is a volunteer in the warehouse of a local charity which handles donations and the letter fell out of a donated book. He thought it was of interest and thought it should be preserved. The…

Tom Newman (1894 – 1943)

Six Times Billiard Champion Although born Thomas E. Pratt he played under the name Tom Newman and eventually changed his name to Newman in 1919. He played in the Professional Billiards World Championship finals in every year from 1921 to 1930. Winning the title six times. The last five of the finals were played against…

Peradon “The World’s Best Cue Maker”

(this was a message that Walter Lindrum wrote in a book to Fred Peradon in 1947) (also “1000 breaks in every cue”) The book “Billiards and Snooker by Walter Lindrum”, the World’s greatest Billiard player, was sponsored by Tooheys , it is an iconic Australian beer brand and brewery. The book had been in the…

Tournament Triangle

In March 2026 the Collection had donated the triangle used by the Tournament Match Referee Peter Williamson. Peter Williamson 26 July 1948 – 15th February 2026 Peter Williamson, a referee on the World Snooker Tour for 30 years until he retired in 2021. He died in 2026 after a period of illness at the age…

46/48 St. Anne Street

E. A. Clare & Son Ltd. building in Liverpool Whilst having major building work carried out on the 46/48 St. Anne Street premises, the building was surrounded in scaffold for many months. During the work old Lamb & Watts items turned up and a rainwater hopper with initials and a date,  which made us interested…

Chares Dickens and Thurston

Dickens converted a room at Gads Hill Place into a billiard and smoking room. He even added special tiles to protect the walls from cue damage. The tiles that Dickens had fitted to his Billiard Room to prevent cue damage to the walls. January 1865 Jan 1866 Cheque for Billiard accessories Section of letter to…

John Bennett & Company

In December, 1941, and incendiary raid on London completely destroyed the John Bennett & Co’s building at 120 Newington Causeway, London SE1. All existing records of the Company were lost until an extraordinary inci

W. Jelks & Sons

As result of and email to the ‘Snooker Heritage ‘ web site asking about a table supplied and installed by W. Jelks & Sons and finding that there was only a couple of letters and a brochure or two in the collection, it seemed further research was required.

Orme & Sons Ltd.

At the height of their fame, Orme & Sons attained recognition as one of the most important billiard table manufacturers in the country, a status which only a handful of manufacturers outside London ever achieved.

SamsBros.

Whilst trying to research the history of Bar Billiards and its origins three U.K. business names come to the fore. Bar Billiards Ltd, Jelks and Sams Bros. These three business are the names originally associated with the introduction of the game of Bar Billiards into the U.K. Both Jelks and Bar billiards Ltd. have been covered

Bar Billiards Ltd.

In 2013 Peter Clare with the help of Peter Ainsworth put together a an all too brief history of Jelks. As a result Ivor Champion (bar-billiards.com) spotted the scan of the Jelks ‘Automati

Raper & Sons

The Billiard & Snooker Heritage Collection, sadly, does not have much information or catalogues of this once famous Manchester Billiard firm. What we can glean from the papers is that it was founded in 1845 in Spear Street, Piccadilly, Manchester.

Geo. Wright & Co.

Sadly there is little in the Heritage Collection concerning this Billiard firm but with help from Peter Aisworth some salient details have been recorded and if any one can provide further information it would be of great interest. Currently the only picture of a table made by them is take

Cox & Yeman

A brief history of one of the other great London Billiard Companies, which for a time was one of the three major Billiard firms.(read Thurston history and Burroughes & Watts history)

Burroughes & Watts

The main part of this article was written by Peter Ainsworth, the dedicated historian and researcher into all things written about the Billiard game. The information that he has put together for the article on this famous Billiard business is remarkable. Some of the pictures are from Peter Ainsworth others are from

E.J. Riley

An authoritative history of the E. J. Riley Ltd. business was written by the grandson of one of the founders of the business, which was published in the book – Billiards & Snooker a Trade History complied by Mr. J. R. Mitchell (the retired Managing Director of Thurston) and published by the British Sports & Allied Industries

J. Ashcroft & Co

n May 2009 Peter Ashcroft the great grandson of the founder was able to provide a great deal of the background information, as well as pictures, used in this article. Peter Clare the compiler of the article i

Peradon

A short history of the firm with mention of the other firms (J.Nidd, MacMorram, Weildings & E.L.Fletcher & Son) that help make it as it is today.

File Returned by The Victoria & Albert Museum

In 2017 contact was made by the Victoria & Albert museum (V & A), they had recently found a file of Thurston papers and wished to return them. Some 30+ years earlier a number of files had been lent to the museum containing old drawings etc. but most had already been return. The file which the V & A found ha

Thurston’s Association With Napoleon

This article was prompted by Peter Ainsworth who had heard Peter Clare mention in a You Tube video by David Smith of Cuesnviews of the supply of Billiards equipment to St. Helena in 1819. This prompted further research as Peter Ainsworth had mentioned an article in the August 1925 edition of the Billiard Player.

Thurston & Co

Thurston claims to be the ‘oldest’ Billiard business, having been founded in 1799. John Thurston was the person who, by the introduction of slate for the bed of tables and rubber in the cushions, made tables that all other table makers have copied ever since.

Thos. Padmore & Sons

This famous Birmingham Billiard (Snooker) business now trading under the name of Thurston has a long and enviable reputation not just in the UK but also anywhere the sport of Billiards has been played. It se

E. A. Clare Cushion Plates

Peter Ainsworth in April 2023 had put together an intersting article on the firms cushion plates and their historical referance. He kindly gave permission to publish them withing our article.

E.A. Clare Son Ltd

As the oldest snooker / pool / billiard business on Merseyside in 2012 celebrated it’s 100th anniversary , the grandson of the founder has compiled some of it history complete with pictures of the personalities including the staff and managers over the years. The Company was founded in Fraser Street not half a mile from the current premises in St. Anne Street and so has been part of the local Everton district community for all its history.

G W Ellis – Ivory Turner

In September 2023 after Mrs. Gibbs (nee Ellis) had seen a repeat of the BBC programme “Flog it” which feature a visit by the presenter Paul Martin to the Snooker Heritage Collection. She phone in to say that she had some interesting items concerning Ivory Billiard Balls. Her father and grandfather had been in the b

Billiards & Snooker Balls

Apart from the fact that we heard earlier that a certain Irish King seemed to use Billiard Balls of brass, throughout most of the time that the game of Billiards has existed the balls were made of Ivory. Composition Balls are of comparatively recent introduction.

Origins of Snooker

At the beginning of the notes I did say that I would later on refer to the Game of Snooker, which I think we must admit is now very much more popular amongst ordinary club players than the original game of Billiards. (See Also days of Old Origins of Snooker)

Billiard / Snooker Cues

We should first of all establish that when we are talking about a Billiard Cue, this expression also embraces Snooker Cues. In practise there is no difference at all between a

Billiard Table Cushions

Compared to the ancient origin of the game, which we have already heard about, rubber billiard cushions are quite a recent introduction.

The Construction of a Billiard Table

Most full sized Billiard tables stand on 8 legs. I think however we should perhaps immediately recognise that the legs and under framing of a Billiard Table are really only the physical means of supporting the playing surface at a convenient height above floor level.

Origins of The Game of Billiards

I am afraid nobody really knows how the game of Billiards really started, so it is that as with many other things in life there are a number of theories, or should I say “fairy tales” in existence which endeavour to explain the origin of the game, and you must choose whichever story you think best. One thing however is quite

Fred Davis O.B.E.

This article is not one written by Norman but as Fred Davis must be considered as a Past Master it seems to be the appropriatre place for it to be.

W. Dufton

Past Masters No14 – July 1984

J.P Mannock

Past Master No.13 ­ April 1984

E. Diggle

PAST MASTERS NO. 12 – March 1984

W.J. Peall

PAST MASTERS No. 11 – January 1984

Billy Mitchell

PAST MASTERS No. 10 – November 1983

Tom Taylor & John North

PAST MASTERS NO’S 8 & 9 – (August 1983)

H.W. Stevenson

PAST MASTERS NO 7 – July 1983

Charles Dawson

PAST MASTERS NO 6 – April 1983

Joseph Bennett

PAST MASTERS NO. 5 – (March 1983)

John Roberts Junior

Past Masters No. 4 – December 1982

William Cook Senior

Past Masters No. 3 – Published September 1982

John Roberts Senior

Past Masters No.2 – Ist published august 1982

Kentfield & Carr

Past Masters No 1 – (circa 1982)

Origins of Snooker

Compiled for the Heritage Collection by Peter Clare, with especial thanks to Peter Ainsworth for his detailed article.

Mace to Billiard Cue

DAYS OF OLD NO. 9 – (November & December 1984)

Unusual Billiard Tables

Days of Old No 8 – (June 1984)

Magnus Billiard Tables

DAYS OF OLD NO. 7 – CUE WORLD SEPT 1983

Billiard Table Lighting

Days of Old No. 6 – May / June 1983

Billiard & Snooker Balls

In previous articles we have traced the development of the billiard table from the early models with wooden beds and stuffed cushions, and we have traced the development of the billiard cue, from the original mace to the present day billiard cue, and we have also referred to the introduction of leather cue tips etc

Billiard Cushions

DAYS OF OLD No. 4 -(October 1982)

Billiard Table Development

DAYS OF OLD No. 3 – (September 1982)

Billiard Rules, Maces Etc

DAYS OF OLD No. 2 – July 1982

Origins of Billiards

Days of Old No. 1 – June 1982

Metric Billiard Table

Published in April 1970 edition of Billiards & Snooker Magazine

Joseph John Newman’s Cue

Information on a 19th Century two piece cue in the Heritage Collection. The cue is unusual as it is a two piece cue and has two shafts, one being ash the other pear wood. The cue and shafts are housed in a two piece leather cue case complete with an old box of tips.

Glass Cues

The earliest glass cue was made in the late 1920s to early 1930s. This was a time when cue makers were experimenting with other materials than wood. Thurston were one of the companies that were doing this. These early cue had a wire running inside the full length of the cue for strength, the glass had a yellow/green tinge to it.

The Cue Collector Articles

Andy Hunter wrote a series of twenty informative articles, under the title “The Cue Collector, which were published by the English Amateur Billiard Association in the Amateur Billaird Player magazine between July 1997 and the Spring of 2003.

French Marquetry Cues

Possibly the most interesting cues in the Heritage Collection are the cues described as being ‘French Marquetry cues. They are certainly worth their own artcle to show them. The fine examples in the collection are illustrated below.

Peradon Cue Plates

Peradon’s have made numerous models of cues over the years and the pictures below of some of the cue plates associated with their production. These pictures are taken from sections of the display boards so some of the plates will be seen more than once.

Signature Cue

Back in 2007 Peter Clare had an phone call from a Mr. T. Lawrence concerning a Horace Lindrum Cue which had been hand down through the family, originally belonging to his maternal grandfather Mr. Robert Grice who worked for McDonald biscuits.

Maureen Baynton Cue

This cue was gifted to Wally West by Maureen Baynton; the most prolific lady player of the pre-modern era

Apollo Tubular Cue

In early 2016 a question was received concerning a tubular metal cue which prompt some research into these cues which were marked in the U.K. In the 1950 to the 1970’s.

Heritage Cue Collection

The Cue Collection is quite extensive and so we have split off the artilce on the Signature Cue, The Peradon Cue Plates and the French Maruetry Cues to try and make it more easly to view the items.

A Thurston Leicester Square Match Table

In October 2017 Thurston received an email concerning a table manufactured by them with a plate indicating that it had been installed in their famous Leicester Square Match Room.

February 2018 H.F. Smith’s Items

February 2018 Items donated by H.F. Smith’s son to the Collection.

Further Information on TIMEFRAME Unit

The Timeframe unit was one of the items donated to the Snooker Heritage Collection by the family of David Smith

June 2017 David Smith Collection

At the end of June 2017 the Snooker Heritage Collection received a call from Peter Smith to say that his family had a lot of Billiard and Snooker memorabilia that they would like to donate to the Collection.

Watneys Professional Snooker 1973

In November 2019 the card from the 1973 Watneys Professional Snooker was donated to the collection by Mrs. D.A. Grice of West Sussex.

Lancashire Billiard Handicap Scorecards 1920/30s

In August 2018 we received an email from Jenny Hill advising that she had about 20 score card/ programmes for Amateur Charity Billiard Handicaps for matches in Lancashire covering the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. She asked if they were of interest to the Collection.

Pontins Cup

A phone call from Bob Tonge, who for many years was the person who ran the North West Billiards & Snooker Association and even at 85 years of age still is a stalwart of the Bolton Association, asking if a home could be found to preserve one of the old North West Association cups. It has since been reclaimed by the association and is back in use

March 2018 Frederick Jones Collection

A letter received in March 2018 from a lady who said she might have some items that would be of interest for the Heritage Collection. It turn out that her grandfather Frederick Jones had for many years worked at Thurston Leicester Square during the 1930’s

Pocket Net Information

In November 2017 a call was received from a Mr. Foster who had some information on a patent for Billiard Pocket Nets that allowed a referee or player to remove the balls from the net without having to put a hand into the net via the slate pocket opening. (It turned out that it was…

21st Century

A brief history of significant dates for the Company and some other interesting dates concerning the developments in Billiards & Snooker.

20th Century

A brief history of significant dates for the Company and some other interesting dates concerning the developments in Billiards & Snooker.

Pre-20th Century

A brief history of significant dates for the Company and some other interesting dates concerning the developments in Billiards & Snooker. 1799 – John Thurston established in Newcastle Street,St. Clement Danes, Strand, London as a Cabinet Maker and Billiards Table Maker . 1807 – The first leather cue tips used by Monsieur Mingaud -a retired French Infantry Officer…

TV & Radio Visits

Although the Collection has had quite a few visits from T.V. Companies and also provided items for T.V. Programmes over the years we didn’t keep a record of them. However since 2013 we have had more visits and have kept a photographic record of them. Also radio presenters.

Tables

Modern tables are rectangular, standard-sized and made of wood and slate, but in the past tables could be as long as 15 feet, circular or triangular, and made of marble, metal, or even concrete!

The Snooker and Billiard Collection

The Norman Clare Collection, now called the Snooker Heritage Collection, at Thurston, St. Anne Street, Liverpool is probably the largest collection of billiards and snooker memorabilia in the world. Only the Heinrich Weingartner Museum in Vienna compare with it and that is devoted to carom billiards. 

The British Factory House

In 2014 we received an enquiry from The British Factory House in Oporto to renovate their ‘Billiard’ table. After some emails to and from asking questions and receiving pictures it became obvious that this was an early example of a Billiard table.

Marsden & Saffley Cast Iron Billiard Table

If you have looked at the article under the heading Norman’s Lectures call the ‘The Construction of a Billiard Table’ you will have read a brief paragraph, shown below, on the Marsden & Saflet Cast Iron Billiard Table.

Kicks – Static Electricity

During the 2013 Betfair World Snooker Championships the match between Graham Dott and Shaun Murphy was interrupted due to Graham Dott having suffered several sever static electic shocks.

Bromborough Institute

An email was received on 3rd July letting E.A. Clare & Son Ltd. know that Bromborough Village Institute, built in 1908, had an ‘old’ Bayliff table which had a E.A. Clare remodel plate indicating that the last time it had been worked on was in 1954. Nothing really unusual in that BUT the table was stored under the floor.

Unusual Snooker Table Installations & Storage

Over the years Thurston’s have supplied, installed and worked on Snooker/Billiard tables in many places and countries. Some of these have been quite unusual. Here a just a few examples that might be of interest.

Harris Cast Iron Tables

In 1998 The Norman Clare Heritage Collection, had donated to it, a most exciting new piece for the collection. It is a cast iron framed full size billiard table.

Billiard/Snooker Table Beds

Prior to 1826 Billiard tables (when I mention a billiard table you can substitute the word Snooker!!) had wooden beds. These beds were by no means level and it is recorded that Thurston sent out their fitters to ‘flog’ the bed i.e. they went and tried to plane off the high spots. An example of a full size wooden bed is in the Collection and there is also an 8ft portable table with a wooden bed.

Billiard Cloth

When you hear or read the cloth that covers the slate and cushions of a Snooker (Billiard) table described as BAIZE you can almost hear the sharp intake of breath in Stroud (West of England – Strachan) and Pudsey (Hainsworth) where the last mills in the UK that produce Billiard / Snooker cloth are based. Why the intake of breath – well baize is a wool /cotton mix material used for covering card tables and notice boards, whereas the cloth used on Snooker tables is a specialist quality pure wool material with a raised nap and is a much more costly engineered product. A far superior material than baize!

Billiard Chalk

I should perhaps also briefly refer to the Billiard Chalk. It seems that chalk was used on the ends of cues even before the leather tips were used, in order to try and prevent or reduce miscuing. It is perhaps interesting to note that even today we use ordinary white chalk on the wooden chuck in a lathe in order to grip a Bowling Green Bowl firmly during the turning process. Originally the chalk used was white, but this made such a mess of the playing surface that the green and blue Chalks were introduced, which were not so noticeable on the green playing surface of the Billiard Cloth.

Bar Billiards -The story of the tables & the game

There are several articles about the history of Bar Billiards in the U.K. Basically all agree that the game was imported into the U.K. after being seen in Northern Europe in the early 1930’s.

Billiard Irons

The Billiard Table iron is quite a heavy piece of kit weighing in at approx 8 kilos    ( 17.62 lbs). The iron should be used after the cloth has been brushed to help lay the nap. It should not be too hot as this can scorch the cloth and  like the brushing is always used from the baulk end to the top of the table. It is also recommended that the start position for using the iron should be varied across the baulk end so that the when the iron is at its hottest (after being taken off the heat) is not always placed on the table in the same position as this could also mean that the cloth could be ‘heat damaged’

The Founder

The Norman Clare Collection at Thurston (formerly E.A. Clare and Son), St Anne Street, Liverpool, is probably the largest collection of billiards and snooker memorabilia in the world.

Billiard & Snooker Balls

Ivory balls replaced wooden ones in the early 1800s but by the 1880s about 12,000 elephants a year (mostly female) were being killed to supply Britain with billiard balls.

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