Original sepia print of a group of croquet players gathered on the lawn in front of Avington Park House, Avington, c. 1870

Photograph of a croquet party at Avington Park, Avington

Taken about 1870

The Shelley family resided at Avington Park at this time, and the image of their croquet party provides much interesting information about the fashions of the age.

Croquet, deriving from the French game of paille maille, was an extremely popular Victorian pastime from the 1850s onwards. Clubs and championship matches were organised and numerous publications such as Jean Jacques' 'Croquet; Its Laws and Regulations' gave advice on how to play the game.

The photograph was taken by Winchester photographer William Savage (1817-87) and is found in an album entitled 'Hampshire Views of Churches, Country Houses and Public Buildings'.