Thurston

John Thurston (1777-1850) was an apprentice cabinetmaker at Gillows of Lancaster’s London branch. In 1799 he established his own company and became the first sole manufacturer of billiard tables and associated billiard room furniture , by 1814, at his premised in Catherine street, strand, London. One of his most famous tables was that supplied to Longwood house on st. helena, which was used by Napoleon during his exile after the Battle of Waterloo. In 1826 an innovative John Thurston introduced the first slate bed on a billiard table and supplied it to ... show more

John Thurston (1777-1850) was an apprentice cabinetmaker at Gillows of Lancaster’s London branch. In 1799 he established his own company and became the first sole manufacturer of billiard tables and associated billiard room furniture , by 1814, at his premised in Catherine street, strand, London. One of his most famous tables was that supplied to Longwood house on st. helena, which was used by Napoleon during his exile after the Battle of Waterloo. In 1826 an innovative John Thurston introduced the first slate bed on a billiard table and supplied it to

“White's Club” in 1832. he was promptly granted the Royal Warrant to his Majesty King George IV, followed in 1833 by that of his Majesty King William IV and finally her Majesty Queen Victoria (1837) on the completion of a table for Windsor Castle. In 1835 Thurston introduced the use of India rubber and later Vulcanized rubber for the Billiard table cushion, this was a hugely important improvement and completely changed ball response, previously the cushions had been stuffed with many layers of felt padding. After his death in 1850 the company continued to flourish and won a Gold medal at the Great exhibition of 1851. Re-development meant re-location to Cheyne Walk sometime in the 1890s; a prestigious showroom and match rooms were opened at Leicester square in 1901 and another branch in Cape Town, south Africa. In addition to the honour of further Royal Warrants bestowed in the 20th century, important architects and designer such as Charles Voysey, Frank Brangwyn and William Morris, were encouraged to design billiard tables lighting and associated accessories.