An old engraving of a quintain or tilting post at Offham, West Malling, Kent, England, UK – it is from a Victorian history book. The sport was a popular one, often used as training for jousting and tilting. A horseman would attempt to strike the hanging target with his lance. The target was usually a shield, mannequin or board (as here, right) on a pole (‘the quintain’). After striking the flat end of the pivoting horizontal arm with a lance or staff, the rider would speed off to avoid being hit by a swinging sandbag attached to the opposite end. The Offham post still stands.
An old engraving of a quintain or tilting post at Offham, West Malling, Kent, England, UK – it is from a Victorian history book. The sport was a popular one, often used as training for jousting and tilting. A horseman would attempt to strike the hanging target with his lance. The target was usually a shield, mannequin or board (as here, right) on a pole (‘the quintain’). The game was popular, especially in Elizabethan times, with all classes, and could also be played on horseback, on foot, or using a wooden horse. After striking the flat end of the pivoting horizontal arm with a lance or staff, the rider would speed off to avoid being hit by a swinging sandbag attached to the opposite end. The Offham post still stands. It was restored in 1945, and a plaque on its history was unveiled in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations.
Size: 3248px × 2986px
Location: Offham, West Malling, Kent, England, UK
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1400s, 1500s, 1600s, ages, black, board, britain, british, century, early, england, english, engraving, equestrian, gallop, historic, historical, horse, hundreds, illustration, joust, jousting, kent, knight, lance, medieval, metal, middle, mock, offham, pole, post, practice, quintain, ride, riding, ring, shield, skill, sport, target, tilt, tilting, tournament, train, training, uk, white
