Although there are many competing stories about how the game of Darts was invented, one thing that is mot contested is that it was a descendant of archery- which is why the thrown objects are colloquially known as 'arrows'

The most likely beginings of the game gan be traced back to mandatory archery practice. Particularly to the south coast of England, and Devon specifically. The first Earl of Dartmouth, William Legge was a stickler for this practice and kept it mandatory well after the law had changed. The summer of 1714 was particularly wet and the villagers were fed up of practicing archery in the rain- so in the spirit of true Englishmen when faced with doing something in bad weather that they didn't want to do, they absconded to the pub.

Legge was not appreciative of them skipping practice and threatened punishments if people didn't attend practice. The villagers were unwilling to get drenched to satisfy an Earl's vanity for a long dismissed law, so they worked out a way to keep practicing while staying warm and dry in the pub.

They took a barrel, and placed it on it's side. Exposing the butt, and split it into areas. Highest scoring at the head with an exceptional bonus for the neck and eyes. Obviously the landlord wasn't going to be happy with bows being loosed inside his pub, so they threw the arrows at the target instead.

This was the birh of Dart's game. Named to flatter the Earl. It caught on as an archery substitute across the and became shortened to Dart's over time.

There have been attempts to update the game, which is why some historic pubs have rifle ranges in them. But this never really caught on as.. well Dart's was inherently safer, especially after the beer started flowing.

Darts was invented in 1714, as a way for villagers to maintain mandatory archery practice that was insisted upon by the Earl of Dartmouth.