History of Fives
The story of Fives, from English churchyard handball in the 1700s to eighty-eight venues worldwide today. Eleven milestones and the original shot book.
Key Milestones
- 1700s. Handball played against church walls in English schoolyards
- 1840. First standardised court built at Eton College Chapel; every court since is modelled on it
- 1877. Rules first formalised
- 1924. Eton Fives Association founded
- 2026. 88 venues across 6 continents; World Fives Day held annually