Object of the month for July 2009

Small leather ball mid to late 1300s

As the Ashes cricket tournament starts and the Wimbledon tennis tournament
concludes, the thoughts of many during the summer turns to sport, both as a
spectator and participant.

To celebrate what is hopefully a successful summer of sport, Museum of London

Docklands is displaying a selection of sporting bats and balls from across the ages in
its foyer and this roughly sewn ball from the 1300s features.

The display is part of the West India Quay festival, which has a sports week as part
of its programme, and will run throughout the month.

To celebrate the West India Quay festival Museum of London Docklands will be free
to enter on 18 and 19 July 2009.

This ball is formed of four pieces of leather sewn around a solid moss stuffing and is
one of the earliest balls on display.
Such a ball is likely to have been used in street and park games of the time as
William FitzWalter, writing in the 12th century, noted ‘a much frequented game of ball’
taking place across the City.

The rules for such games have long been lost, but moss-stuffed balls were common
and were first used as new ball games and subsequent ball design and stuffing’s
developed.

In Much Ado about Nothing, Shakespeare cites tennis balls filled with beard hair,
whilst in France Louis IX introduced strict rules about stuffing materials.

.As our Curator, Jackie Keily, says “There’s a great story of London’s leisure time to
be told through the simple instruments of their pleasure. Museum of London
Docklands’ display is a small but well rounded reminder that Londoners have for
many years been adept at having a ball with balls.”