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A Potted (!) History of a British Billiard / Snooker business from 1799

THURSTON – The Home of Snooker

The front cover of one of the Company's earliest catalogues circa 1890

A sales leaflet produced by Thurston in 1949 stated “The name of Thurston is synonymous with billiards history”. This statement should now be updated to “…..synonymous with billiards and snooker history”. Snooker was a game originally invented to be played on a billiard table. Whilst we now refer to snooker tables, snooker cues etc. it is only since the end of the 1939-45 World War that snooker came to dominate in the UK. (see article 'Origins of Snooker')

The founder of the famous billiard & snooker business

John Thurston learnt about the trade at Gillow’s (of Lancaster) London offices, where they offered not only high quality furniture but also billiard tables, and so it is assumed that when he set up his own furniture business he too offered billiard tables.

Gillow Billiard Rules

The Thurston furniture business started in 1799 in premises in Newcastle Street (in the parish of St. Clement Danes),in the Strand. However, could it be that before John Thurston set up completely on his own he was in partnership with two other cabinet makers? The evidence is from a copy of 'La Belle Assemblee’ or ‘Bell’s Court & Fashionable Magazine' October 1809 which contained the following advert. Note the address ‘6 Catherine Street, Strand'.

Perhaps the following two adverts (possible typo error on initial 'T' should have been 'J' in the first advert) confirms the 6 Catherine Street association with the Thurston in the 1809 advert and also given the dates provides some supporting evidence that it was 1814 when he specialised in billiards.

1816 [June] Advert: "Billiard Tables.—T. Thurston, <sic> No.6, Catherine-street, Strand, having continual applications for good second-hand Billiard Tables, beyond the possibility of supplying them, is at length enabled by careful purchase of materials, and manufacturing many together, to offer new and superior tables, at very little more than the prices demanded for old ones, he submits to the Nobility, Gentry, Merchants, Captains, &c. a variety of portable and other Billiard Tables, some with solid mahogany beds, from 10 to 80 guineas, each warranted accurate, maces, cues, &c. Old Cushions re stuffed in town or country." [T.08/06/1816 p.1]

1817 Advert: As June 1816 except, now "J. Thurston" still 6, Catherine-street, prices ranging from "10 to 70 guineas" and "a new-invented portable billiard table with folding legs, very readily adapted, and most conveniently adapted for the dining or drawing room." [T.04/04/1817 p.1]

It is interesting to note in the adverts the mention of the 'new-invented portable billiard table as the collection has an example as illustrated in the following pictures

The table has a wooden bed and the legs lock into place with a dove -tail sections and metal struts.

Thurston also supplied the billiard table to Longwood House on St. Helena which was used by Napoleon when he was exiled there after he was defeated at Waterloo. Thurston had confirmation of this when they made a presentation to 'La Societe des Amis de St Helena, as recorded by the letter shown above.

In 1826 John Thurston introduced the slate bed for billiard tables and the record's show that the first made complete with a slate bed was supplied to 'White's Club in 1832. Also in 1826 John Thurston was granted the Royal Warrant to His Majesty King George IV – sole appointment

There is also evidence that the Company first moved in to 14 Catherine Street. An old set of Billiard rules in the collection, shows the address as ‘14 Catherine Street, Strand and Salisbury Wharf, Adelphi, London'.

In 1833 John Thurston was granted the Royal Warrant of His Majesty King William IV.

Perhaps one of the most significant improvements that John Thurston introduced was in 1835 with the use of India Rubber for the Billiard Cushion. This replaced the old 'stuffed' List ( made up of layers of felt padding) cushions.

In 1837 John Thurston was granted the Royal Warrant of Her Majesty Queen Victoria.

In 1845 John Thurston introduced and patented the first vulcanised rubber billiard cushion.

The following announcement / advert from 1869 concerning the improvement to the cushions has 14 Catherine Street and given that we understand this patent was granted in 1869 it would indicate that Thurston’s traded from 14 and 16 Catherine Street.

However this raises further questions as John Thurston’s death is recorded as September 1850. In his will filed earlier in 1850 his address is 14 Catherine Street. So it could be that the shop and office was a 16 Catherine Street and he and his family lived at No 14? (John Thurston's Will was written 29th June 1850 and proved 16th September of that year. So he died sometime between those dates. Beneficiaries were his wife Sarah and his daughter Ruth Gabriel, wife of Christopher Turrell Gabriel, a timber merchant and sole executor).

The letters patent (One of the three examples in the Billiard & Snooker Heritage Collection) concerning the introduction of Vulcanised Rubber Cushions are still in the Heritage collection and are an impressive sight with the hand written description and massive wax seal.

After his death in 1850 he was succeeded in the business by Mr. G.J. Atkins who entered into partnership with Samuel Pitts. Samuel Pitts was followed by his son Thomas Pitt and some time around 1896 a Mr. Stevens, who was the general manager, with his wife's brother - John Craggs – purchased the interest of the firm which was then turned into a limited company.

Confirmed by the following information provided by Peter Ainsworth from research he carried out -

1896 (*) The business of Messrs. Thurston and Co. was registered as a Limited Company on February 24th [1896], by Gush, Phillips and Co., 8 Finsbury Circus, E.C., with a capital of £100,000, divided into 100,000 shares of £1 each. Object: To acquire the business of manufacturers of and dealers in billiard tables, and all accessories thereto, as now and hitherto carried on by Thurston and Co, at 16 Catherine Street, Strand, W.C., and 33 Cheyne Walk, and at Grass Market, Cape Town, [South Africa] upon the terms of an agreement expressed to be made between the above-mentioned Messrs. Thurston and Co. of the one part and this company of the other part; and to carry on and extend the said business in all or any of its branches. The signatures are:-Shares (one each) Mrs. J. G. Craggs, Stone House, St. John's, S.E; Mr. J. G. Craggs, Stone House, St. John's, S.E; C. H. Craggs, 16 Catherine Street, W.C; Mrs. C. E. Craggs, 9 Holies Street, Cavendish Square, W; G. D. Stevens, 16 Catherine Street, W.C; Mrs. D. Stevens, 35 Lavender Gardens, Clapham Common; H. H. Craggs, Fressingfield, Wandsworth Common. The first directors—of whom there shall be not less than three nor more than seven—are J. G. Craggs, G. H. Craggs, and G. D. Stevens. Qualification, £1,000. Remuneration, £10 each per annum. [Billiards Review 1895-96 p.300]

The trade mark of Thurston & Co circa 1896 which was also used as the Company Seal
(note the references to Australia and South Africa as well as their Royal Warrants)

We had assumed that as some adverts have the date establishing the business as 1814 (see picture below) that it tied in with being incorporated as a Limited Company when they also listed their address as 16 Catherine Street, with their ‘Manufactory’ at the Waterloo Billiard Works, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. However information from Peter Ainsworth indicates that the factory didn't move to Cheyne Walk until 1872. So perhaps the 1814 date is when J. Thurston decided to specialise in billiard tables and billiard room furniture.

Picture taken from an old THURSTON catalogue

At the Great Exhibition in 1851 Thurston won a gold medal for the design of the table they exhibited

The Heritage Collection is fortunate to have the certificate and also a picture from 'The Art Journal Illustrated Catalogue' showing the Billiard Table that the Company exhibited.

In 1892 the Billiard Association of Great Britain and Ireland accepted a Thurston Billiard table as the 'Standard'. All Billiard (Snooker) tables since that date have followed that standard. The five signatures are all leading Billiard players of the day. In Norman Clare Past Master series information can be found on these players.

The original of this certificate is held in the Heritage Collection

They then specialised in billiards tables and billiard room furniture. When the ‘Waterloo Billiard works’ was set up Cheyne Walk was on the banks of the Thames, allowing easy access for the planks of timber, slates and other raw materials for billiard tables in to the factory from the river as shown in the following picture.

The following pictures show parts of the factory at the Waterloo Billiard Works Cheyne Walk and some of the work force – based on the style of dress it seems to be from circa. 1900. It is interesting to note that the export crates all seem destined for South Africa.

The offices in Catherine Street also had a Match Room to host Billiards competitions and there are two pictures of this room that we have. The first picture is the one used as the ‘front piece’ in the Kentfield book and the other is from one of the old Thurston catalogues.

In one of the copies of the Kentfield 'Game of Billiards' that is in the
Heritage Collection John Thurston signature can be seen

Peall & North were the top professionals billiard players of the day

A Thurston advert from 1923

An oil painting copy of the Kazanecki portrait which is in the
Billiard & Snooker Heritage Collection

John Thurston as an older man

In the late 1890’s a scheme to redevelop the Strand was planned and so it was that Thurston’s had to move from Catherine Street. It seems that the company submitted claims for the costs of the removal that had to be considered in the courts.

Other information provided also shows the problems surrounding the move from Catherine Street to the famous Leicester Square premises.

1900 (*) The Strand Improvement Scheme—At the Guildhall, Westminster, yesterday, [20th November 1900] Mr. J. Troutbeck, high bailiff, and a jury, sat to assess the amount of compensation to be paid by the London County Council for acquiring the premises, 16 Catherine-street, Strand, in connexion with the new street from Holborn to the Strand. The premises are occupied by Messrs. Thurston and Co., billiard-table manufacturers. Mr. Balfour Browne, Q.C., Mr. H. E. Duke, Q.C., M.P., and Mr. C. E. Allan appeared for the claimants; and Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., and Mr. E. Morten represented the London County Council. Mr. Balfour Browne said that Messrs. Thurston and Co.'s business was established in 1814, The premises comprised two sets of buildings, the front part being 16, Catherine-street, and the rear being in Helmet-court. They were held under two separate leases for a term of 21 years from 1892, at rentals of £150 and £115 per annum. This was, according to the evidence he could produce, an inadequate rental. He urged that the claimants were entitled to compensation for the fixtures and fittings, for the cost of removal, and the rent of temporary premises, for the damage by the removal, and for the charge of advertising such removal. Mr. John George Craggs, chairman of Thurston and Co. (Limited), said the average net profit for the past three years had been £5,930. The premises consisted of show-rooms and offices, and a match-room. After making inquiries he considered that it would not be possible to get suitable premises in the district for less than £1,500 a year. Mr. W. Jeffery, director of Sell's Advertising Agency, and Mr. King, advertising agent, estimated the cost of advertising at £3,000 per annum. Sir J. Whittaker Ellis, surveyor, estimated the rental value of the premises at £1,000 per annum. This would make the profit rental £735 a year for 13 years, which on the 6 per cent, table, equalled, with 10 per cent. for compulsory sale, £7,120. He considered that at least a sum equal to two years' profits should be allowed for damages by removal. Sir Edward Clarke said the case for the claimants was founded entirely on apprehensions for which there was no justification in experience. He did not say that the claimants were not entitled to be compensated, but he urged that the claim had been unduly exaggerated. Mr. Farmer, of Messrs. Debenham, Tewson, Bridgewater, and Farmer, surveyors, estimated the premises as worth £525 a year, a profit rental of £260. This was worth £2,531, and he considered that one year's profit, £6,000, would amply compensate the claimants for any damage. The Court was adjourned till to-day. [T.21/11/1900 p.12]

The high bailiff, and a jury yesterday resumed the consideration of the case in which Messrs. Thurston and Co. (Limited), billiard table makers, claimed damages from the London County Council for their interests as lessees and tenants of the premises at No. 16, Catherine street, Strand, which had been acquired in connexion with the new streets. The amount of the claim was nearly £25,000, which was made up as follows:—Value of leasehold interest, £7,000; fixtures and fittings, £700; removal, £250; temporary premises, £250; loss of trade by removal, £10,000; advertising, £6,000; stationary, &c, £100. The same counsel appeared as on the previous day. The evidence on behalf of the Council was continued by Mr. James Green, of Weatherall and Green, Chancery-lane, surveyor, who said he had had an exceptional experience in connexion with properties in the Strand and neighbourhood. He estimated the present rental value of the premises in Catherine-street at £530 per annum, or a profit rental of £265 per annum. This for 13 years on the 6 per cent. table was worth £2,345, and adding 10 per cent. for compulsory sale, £2,579. The fixtures and fittings had been agreed at £700, and in his opinion one year's profits would be a most ample compensation for any loss of trade by removal. Thurston's was not a retail business. It was a trade name and the firm would do as well in any suitable position. Mr. W. S. B. Glasier, surveyor, of St. James's-street, estimated the profit rental to the present tenants at £2,775. In his opinion one year's profits would pay all the trade loss. Mr. B. Walker, surveyor, 32, Moorgate-street, agreed in this valuation. This concluded the evidence and Sir Edward Clarke addressed the jury. Mr. Balfour Browne, in replying, urged that Messrs. Thurston and Co. should be protected from the possibility of any loss by the removal of their business. The high bailiff briefly summed up, and the jury returned a verdict for £9,237, which included all the items in the claim. [T.22/11/1900 p.12]

The following report and information is taken from the 'The World of Billiards' , which was 'The Official Organ of The Billiard Association of Great Britain and Ireland – India and The Colonies' who thought it of sufficient interest to publish in the November 1900 issue the following :-

It seems from his letter of 23 November 1900, that Geo. Stevens felt a bit 'put out' by the evidence that Mr. Craggs had given at the hearing!

Before the move to their new premises in Leicester Square was completed the Company looked to raise funds to help with the costs involved and in the prospectus emphasised their South African investments. The prospectus was printed in the February 1902 issue of 'The World of Billiards'.

The outcome was the move to their most famous office and showroom complete with Match Room in Leicester Square in 1901. What a place it must have been, with extensive showrooms that must have bee the envy of all their competitors.

Thurston Leicester Square office and showrooms

A view of the famous Thurston Leicester Square Match Room

Also at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century Thurston’s were able to commission some of the great artists and architects of that period to design tables for them to offer to their clients.

The following pictures are from the Thurston Catalogue of the period.

C.F.A. Vosey

The Vosey designed table on display in the Thurston showrooms

Frank Brangwyn R.A.

Life Pool Combination Marking Board cabinets also designed by
Frank Brangwyn R..A.

G.B. Carvill, Architect

Thurston Table designed by William Morris

Thurston also enjoyed Royal Patronage and had several Royal Warrants granted during the later part of the 19th Century and early 20th Century. They displayed these at their Leicester Square premises and fortunately a number survived the 1940 damage. An example from 1907 is shown below -

In 1911 Thurston were granted the Royal Warrant to His Majesty King George V.

All the great Billiard Players of the day played matches at Thurston's, Walter Lindrum and Joe Davis probably being the most famous. The painting of Walter Lindrum, now hanging in the Australian National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, shows him standing by the Thurston Match Table.

Walter Lindrum at the Thurston Match table

Walter Lindrum standing in the Thurston Match Room with the noted Australian Aritist
Captain Will Longstaff

Joe Davis winner of the 1930 Professional Billiard Championships
also in the picture taken at Thurston Match Room Leicester Square are L – R
Rev. Herbert Dunnico MP; Chas Chambers marker; Tom Newman losing finalist & Mr. Bissett

a painting of Thurston Leicester Square Match Room by Charles Cundell 1938
depicting an early snooker match between Joe Davis, standing, and Tom Newman playing the shot

Not only were Royalty customers but other famous persons such as Charles Dickens and in fact Thurston's kept one of his cheque's in payment as a memento. Sadly it suffered some damage in 1940, as can be seen in the picture below.

Other famous writers visited the Match Room such as Conan Doyle, who, in his book ‘The Adventure of the Dancing Men’ has a part where Holmes deduces that Watson spent the previous evening at his club playing billiards with a friend called THURSTON. J.B. Priestley was so taken with his visit that he wrote an essay, titled "At Thurston’s" which was published it in his book of essay in 1932. It is a tremendous piece and conjures up the atmosphere of the Match Room as well as Priestley’s appreciation of the players and setting.

In the late 19th century and early 20th century the Thurston Company expanded their interests overseas by opening offices in South Africa. In fact some of the AGM’s were held in Cape Town (it must have been quite a trip, out and back on a Union Castle liner just for a meeting!!).

The Cape Town shop, note the range of sporting goods also sold as well as being
the sole agents for Merryweathers Fire Engines!

In May 1940 the Leicester Square premise suffered severe bomb damage.

The Thurston Matchroom after the air raid

The report about the damage caused by the 1940 bombing

So in 1940 they moved out of their bomb damaged offices, leaving their famous Match Room, which was later re-opened and run by ‘new management’ and they transferred to their Cheyne Walk premises.

The Match Room at Leicester Square when it re-opened in 1947 under new management

There they stayed until in the 1960’s their landlord wished to redevelop the area. At that time new owners (the Partners of E.A.Clare & Son) took over the then somewhat ailing Company and so the search was on for premises to house a small manufacturing base, a retail outlet and the offices.

Suitable, affordable premises were difficult to find but a mews type factory and yard complete with an end of terrace house was found and so the Company in 1964 moved into 1/1a Sharples Hall Street, Primrose Hill in North London. It was not ideal but met most of the search criteria.

During the 1960's the three businesses of E.A. Clare & Son, Thos. Padmore & Sons and Thurston trade under their separate identities but in the early 1980's they traded as the Clare – Padmore – Thurston Group with a common national and international identity. In 1969 the BBC broadcast the first of the 'POT BLACK' programmes, Clare – Padmore – Thurston were involved from the beginning installing the Snooker table in the Birmingham studios.

Pot Black circa 1970

Ted Lowe the famous 'whispering voice of Snooker' commentator standing to the left of Eddie Charlton with John Pulman taking the shot

The Sharples Hall Street premise did not have a window on to the street, caller had to enter via a cobble stone drive down the side of the houses on Sharples Hall Street. So in 1979 shop and office premises were acquired at 220 Camden High Street, London NW1.

The entrance to the office and factory from

Sharples Hall Street, Primrose Hill

In 1983 the Sharples Hall Street factory was sold and larger factory premises at 15/17 Brecknock Road London N7 were acquired.

Thurston Camden High Street, not far from Camden Lock

In 1988 the Clare – Padmore – Thurston Group amalgamated to trade under the historic, to the Billiard & Snooker trade, name of THURSTON.

The Brecknock Road factory was required due to the demand for Snooker tables first in the UK, then in Hong Kong and followed by Belgium and Holland. Once the higher demand had stabilised the table manufacture was transferred to the Liverpool factory and the Brecknock Road premises were sold in 1990.

In 1991 it was decided that the Camden High Street premises were not suitable to manage the business from, it was impossible for either customers or the snooker / billiard / pool service staff to park. Eventually the current premises at 110 High Street, Edgware were found and in 1992 the Company moved setting up the showroom / retail area on the ground floor and the offices on the first floor.

Thurston also sell bowling green bowls and accessories for both the Lawn Green Game and Crown Green. Thurston has another significant association with bowls because the test table used for checking bowls is based on Billiard / Snooker tables. The most common method is to place three tables end to end but one bowls test table manufactured and installed was made up of five table side by side, (should have been entered for the Guinness Book of records as the largest Snooker Table ever made!!). So it is that Thurston have supplied, installed and advised on many test table not just in the UK but throughout the bowling world. The list of test tables installed confirms Thurston the experts in such matters:-

Drakes Pride – Liverpool; Thurston – London; Thos. Padmore & Sons – Birmingham

Thos Taylor (Bowls) – Glasgow; Greys – Worcestershire; Bill Irish Bowls – Pershore

Crown Green Services – Lancashire; Pershore Bowls Centre – Pershore; Premier Bowls – Cheshire

Drakes Pride Victoria – Bendigo, Australia

Thurston have also undertaken the up-grade of the test tables required by World Bowls Ltd. at:-

Drakes Pride – Liverpool; Pershore Bowls Centre – Pershore

Drakes Pride Victoria – Bendigo Australia

An example of Thurston installed bowls test table

made up of three snooker tables end to end thus being 36 ft long.

In 2008 due to the growth in on line sales of Snooker items – our e-shop thurston.co.uk - the retail section in London was closed leaving the administration and office in Edgware.

110 High Street, Edgware, London, HA8 7HF
(the offices are still in the building but the shop is now closed)

Thurston’s have offices and showrooms in Birmingham and Liverpool. Liverpool is also where the Billiard / Snooker / Pool table factory is situated.

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© E.A. Clare & Son Ltd. - All items displayed are from the N. Clare collection. Reproduction of article allowed only with permission from E.A. Clare & Son Ltd.

Please do not hesitate to ask should need any advice on snooker, billiards or pool or wish to make a purchase. Thurston has the most comprehensive range of tables and accessories available.

Visit our e-shop – thurston.co.uk

email - thurston@eaclare.co.uk

Phone – 0870 607 1336