Played in Britain
Charting the heritage of a nation at play
We publish books about Britain's sporting heritage. If you like an old scoreboard, or a mildewed pavilion; if you would like to know where to find the world's oldest bowling green, or the best Art Deco grandstand in London; if you're fed up with homogenised, commercialised sport, and long to dive into a Victorian swimming pool with gorgeous ceramic tiling; if you think potting balls all afternoon in a dimly-lit billiard hall is definitely not time mis-spent; if you have ever wondered why tennis and suburbia go together so well, then Played in Britain is for you...
• Find out more about Played in Britain, our books and our authors
Hugely impressive and immensely important, Played in Britain (is) rapidly becoming the guardian of the nation's sporting heritage.
Played in Britain news feed: reporting on Britain's sporting heritage
Urgent appeal to save unique Roman racetrack
February 8 2010
Campaigners in Colchester have until the end of the month to raise £200,000 and save the only chariot racetrack in Britain. The track, or circus, was discovered by chance on former Ministry of Defence land but could be lost to housing.
New website showcases Suffolk's Olympic heritage
February 7 2010
A new online archive of Suffolk's Olympic and Paralympic successes, including swimmer Karen Pickering, has been launched in a bid to showcase the county's sporting heritage.
Olympian John Hulley celebrated
January 4 2010
A new website about John Hulley, one of the forgotten heroes of the modern Olympian movement, has been launched. Hulley, whose story is told in Played in Liverpool, was one of the founders of the National Olympian Association at his Liverpool Gymnasium in 1865.
Taylor scoops national award for Played at the Pub
December 5 2009
Arthur Taylor has been voted Coors National Journalist of the Year 2009 by the British Guild of Beer Writers for his book in the Played in Britain series, Played at the Pub. Commending his efforts to record an important aspect of pub culture, head of the judging panel Zak Avery said that Arthur's work stood out for being both entertaining and informative.
Read more UK sport heritage news articles »
Selected titles from Played in Britain
Great Lengths
The historic indoor swimming pools of Britain
By Dr Ian Gordon and Simon Inglis
Played in Liverpool
Charting the heritage of a city at play
By Ray Physick
Full of warm nostalgia, but in a serious meaty way, absorbing detail and fascinating social history… the usual Played in Britain trick (is) luring you into their world and making you care as much as they do about something to which you’d barely given a thought before. And… the quality of the photography is superb.
The Observer
For me, this series of books is invaluable. Previous lack of attention by sports historians to the built environment and the way this reflected or impacted on sport is now being redressed. Long may this excellent work continue.
Richard W Cox (University of Manchester) Sport in History
I love your books... keep this wonderful stuff coming.
Brenda Grace, Pontefract
Buy Played in Britain books from this site. Click 'buy now' links to add books to your basket. Signed copies are sent where possible. UK orders are post-free.
Played at the Pub
Copies of the award winning Played at the Pub, the pub games of Britain, are now available at a special discount price of £12.99, post-free to UK customers.
Great Lengths
"Elegantly written and beautifully illustrated" according to the Financial Times. Order your copy of Great Lengths, the historic indoor swimming pools of Britain, post-free to UK customers.
Latest Charles Buchan Books
Sporting Plaques
In the run up to the 2012 Olympics, Played in Britain will be working with English Heritage to identify individuals and locations worthy of a sports-related blue plaque in London. View our gallery of existing sporting plaques and find out how to put forward your own nominations.