Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Playing Conkers!......................................... Autumns wonderful pastime

Autumn brings back some great memories of my school days.... playing Conkers!
"I have searched the Internet and pilfered some images to tell this tale"
 It was a serious game for a schoolboy........... playing Conkers.
I took this image a few day's ago.. .they are the seeds of the Horse Chestnut tree.
Horse Chestnut seeds are better known as Conkers.
A Horse Chestnut tree covered in it's spring flowers... lovely to see.
In the Autumn they produce a wonderful big seed in a spikey case...
We used to throw sticks up at the trees as kids hoping to dislodge the biggest and heaviest we could find.
We put a skewer through the centre and fed a string through the hole.
Battle could then commence.
You dangled your prised possession in front of your opponent for him to swing his in a downward manner hoping to smash it to pieces.
A win by a single conker were added to it's name... a sixer (six wins) a sevener some reaching double figures before being smashed to defeat.
We soaked them in vinegar and baked them in the oven to toughen them up.
Playing "Conkers" is still played by children and adults today...there is even a World Championship.

The Health and Safety brigade have taken some of the fun away though...... Safety Glasses ?
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17 comments:

  1. Unknown4 October 2011 at 22:30

    We did the same Andrew. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  2. Bob Bushell4 October 2011 at 22:35

    Putting them in oven and soaking with vinegar is what called a "cheater". And, you said................
    Lovely stories and beautiful photos.

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  3. TexWisGirl4 October 2011 at 23:47

    what an odd game/tradition! learned something new!

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  4. grammie g5 October 2011 at 00:45

    Hi Andrew....I loved this post!!
    I wondered why they where called Conkers...I thought maybe it was they would fall and conk you on the head lol!!!
    What fun things we used to do for intertainment..Nice to see that this tradition does go on!!

    Grace

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  5. Red Nomad OZ5 October 2011 at 01:21

    HHHMMMmmm... and what happens if you're NOT wearing safety glasses? Does someone call the 'conker police'??!!

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  6. John @ Beans and I on the Loose5 October 2011 at 03:26

    Like Grammie thought, so did I. So, today I met my quota and learned something new. Thanks Andrew.

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  7. Reena5 October 2011 at 03:56

    Such an interesting game ... and, really, safety glasses?????

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  8. ADRIAN5 October 2011 at 06:16

    I'd almost forgotten about conkers. A hard hat would be appropriate during collection.

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  9. Unknown5 October 2011 at 17:37

    Very cool post. Lovely shots!

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  10. jeanlivingsimple5 October 2011 at 22:49

    This is such a cool game!

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  11. DawnTreader6 October 2011 at 08:14

    Wonderful post, very good illustrations! I never heard of the game until a couple of years ago - on another British "ramble" blog in fact. Since then I've also seen it on TV in an episode of the series Lark Rise to Candleford, where rules about "cheating" by baking them etc was also mentioned. I have no recollection of ever hearing of this game in Sweden. And it wouldn't be for lack of horse chestnuts!

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  12. MadSnapper6 October 2011 at 12:19

    very intersting info and I love the photos of the children and the chestnuts. we don't have them here in Florida but some of the Northern states do. thanks for your kind words on my post yesterday. I love the photos under your beautiful headed, clicked on a few to see up close. the hawk is beautiful

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  13. Pantherka6 October 2011 at 16:35

    Nice contribution, great job!

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  14. Tina´s PicStory6 October 2011 at 23:34

    Welcome to Tina´s PicStory! I hope you enjoy the journey :)

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  15. forgetmenot7 October 2011 at 01:24

    Fun to learn about the game of "conkers". Chestnut trees are lovely trees. Have a nice weekend. Mickie :)

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  16. Light and Voices14 October 2011 at 05:24

    Wait till my grandchildren figure out how to use chestnuts as bonkers!
    Joyce M

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  17. Anonymous7 June 2022 at 02:25

    I read about "horse chestnuts and conkers from Miss Reads books. That's where I heard of "vegetable marrows"! Thank you for this info and you're beautiful pictures. I live in the USA in Florida.

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