John Thurston established in Newcastle St., The Strand, London, as a Billiard Table maker and general cabinet maker
Monsieur Mingaud, a French Cavalry Officer, invents the Billiard Cue Tip
John Thurston moved to Catherine Street and became the first to specialise in making Billiard & Bagetelle tables and Billiard Room furniture. Their factory at Cheyne Walk, Chelsea was named the Waterloo Works.
Thurston had supplied the table that Napoleon used during his exile on St. Helena
In 1826 Thurston introduced the first slate bed for a Billiard Table. The records show that the Table was supplied to White's Club in London.
Thos. Padmore established as a Billiard Table Maker in Little Charles Street, Birmingham
Thurston was granted the Royal Warrant of William IV, which was a sole appointment
Thurston introduced the rubber cushion. This superseded the 'List' or 'Stuffed' cushion
Thurston was granted the Royal warrant of Queen Victoria, which was a sole appointment
Thurston was granted and patented the first vulcanised rubber cushion.
Thurston Awarded the Prize Medal (Highest Award) at the great Exhibition
Thurston introduced the improved Vulcanized Rubber Cushion
Thurston introduced the “Perfect” Low Cushion – fast & reliable
The game of Snooker invented by British Army Officers playing at the Ootacamund Club in India
J. Ashcroft of Liverpool awarded Gold Medal for the “excellence of their Billiard Table”
Thurston introduce their Patented Bottomless Pocket
Thurston designed and made the “Original STANDARD” Billiard table for the Billiard Association. This is the standard on which all today's Snooker/Billiard tables are based.
Billiard Van Laere (later Thurston Van Laere) established as Billiard table Makers in Brussels
Thurston moves from Catherine Street to Leicester Square
Thurston granted Royal Warrant by King Edward VII
Thurston granted Royal Warrant by King George V
E.A Clare was founded as a Billiard Table Maker in premises at 15 Fraser Street, Liverpool
Composition Billiard Balls used for first time in the Amateur Billiard Championship
Following a decision taken by the Billiard Association & Control Council in July 1928 Crystalate Composition Billiard Balls would be used for the first time in Professional Billiards
Painting of Daily Mail Gold Cup Snooker competition at Thurston Match Room between Joe Davis and Tom Newman
The Original “Eralc” shade introduced by E.A. Clare & Son, Liverpool,
Also in 1937 the first televised games of snooker were broadcast
The famous Thurston Match Room & Offices in Leicester Square suffered bomb damage and Thurston moved their operation to their factory in Chenye Walk, Chelsea
Thos. Padmore & Sons moved to new premises at 3 Coleshill Street, Birmingham
E.A. Clare celebrated its Golden Jubilee and introduced the first modern design snooker table, know as the Jubilee, with a patented built in levelling device
Thurston and E.A. Clare & Son become associated under the chairmanship of Mr. Norman Clare
The lease on Thurston office & factory at Cheyne Walk, Chelsea is not renewed and the firm moves to 1/1a Sharples Hall Street, Primrose Hill, London NW1
Thos. Padmore & Sons of Birmingham becomes associated to form the Clare-Padmore-Thurston Group under the chairmanship of Mr. Norman Clare
E.A. Clare office and factory 23 to 27 St. Anne Street, Liverpool, compulsory purchase for road scheme. New premises now 46/48 St. Anne Street, Liverpool, L3 3DW
Thos. Padmore & Sons moved to new premises 180 Lozells Road, Birmingham
Super Crystalate Snooker & Billiard Balls introduced
During a visit to Lozells in Birmingham Muhammed Ali dropped into the Thos. Padmore shop. Neville Padmore is shown shaking hands with the great boxer
Norman Clare's book “Billiard & Snooker Bygones” published by Shire Publications
Thurston aquire the trading interest of Billiard Van Laere, the oldest Billiard Table Maker in Belgium and begins trading on mainland Europe as “Thurston Van Laere”
J. Ashcroft trading interest acquired by E.A. Clare & Son. The founder of Clare's Edward Arthur had served his apprenticeship at Ashcroft's
The Clare – Padmore – Thurston group now trading as Thurston
Norman Clare (1914-1990) died. The museum he established at the Liverpool office renamed THE SNOOKER HERITAGE COLLECTION
European Billiard Congress formed – Thurston founder members
A website dedicated to the Billiard & Snooker collection set up by Norman Clare launched – www.snookerheritage.co.uk
New Thurston Livery for Delivery and Service vans
Thurston's philosophy has always been based on customer service. You the customer are Thurston's number one priority.
Thurston has been the home of Snooker, Bowls & Club Games for over 200 years. We pride ourselves on our history and knowledge.
Thurston have been maintaining snooker tables since 1799. We are innovators in methods used for table maintenance and servicing.
