In Pictures: Vintage Board Games At The V&A

M@
By M@ Last edited 139 months ago
In Pictures: Vintage Board Games At The V&A
The Mansion of Happiness. Involves whipping.
The Mansion of Happiness. Involves whipping.
Patchesi, better known in this country as Ludo.
Patchesi, better known in this country as Ludo.
Celebrate George III's Golden Jubilee a little late, with this board game.
Celebrate George III's Golden Jubilee a little late, with this board game.
Get your Wiggins on with this cycle game from the early 20th Century.
Get your Wiggins on with this cycle game from the early 20th Century.
The Cottage of Content. You can't beat a bit of cottaging.
The Cottage of Content. You can't beat a bit of cottaging.
Vintage chess.
Vintage chess.

As part of the ongoing Exhibition Road Show (great website, by the way), the V&A is showing off replicas of its vintage games collection, normally housed at its Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green.

Try your hand at a Victorian morality game such as 'The Cottage of Content: The Right Roads and the Wrong Ways', or 'The Mansion of Happiness' whose instructions include the warning "Whoever becomes a Liar, Swearer and Sabbath Breaker must be taken to the Whipping Post and Whipt".

On less prudish/erotic ground, you can also try a cycling game from 1900 based on Snakes & Ladders, or a commercial tie-in for the Golden Jubilee of George III. Early versions of draughts and chess plus the ancient Indian game of Pachesi, now better known as Ludo, are also available to play.

You'll find the games on Exhibition Road between now and 5 August. It's free to take part.

See also:

99 Tiny Games Around London

Last Updated 02 August 2012