William H. Scheuerle

Croquet and Its Influences on Victorian Society: the First Game That men and Women Could Play Together Socially William H. Scheuerle

The work argues that the ascendency of croquet as a popular sport in England during the middle to late nineteenth century was a direct result of class. He traces the history of the sport and finds that it was one of if not the first sport that men and women could enjoy together. The game initially had an elite social status attached to it: it was first seen as a game suitable for the British gentry, especially for those families whose estates had extensive lawns, or for families wealthy enough to join croquet clubs. It attracted many people because it had a certain 'snob' appeal and formed as an upper class leisure time activity, and developed with the middle class due to their rising number at that time.