A BRIEF HISTORY OF LAWN BOWLS AND THE LINK TO THE STROUD AREA
Bowls is a popular British pastime with a long and colourful history. From humble beginnings, it survived a royal ban to become a sport played in over 50 countries around the world.
Historians have traced the sport of bowls all the way back to the 13th century. Several manuscripts of the period were found to include drawings of people playing bowls, or at least a rudimentary version of it. The world’s oldest surviving bowling green is the Southampton Old Bowling Green, which was first played on in 1299.
Both the British Royal Family and Parliament became concered that the growing popularity of bowls would stop people practising archery , which was an important skill for battle. It was forbidden in the reighs of Edward 111, Richard 11 and other monarchs. The prohibition even continued after the invention of gunpowder and firearms.
Bowling alleys had first been established in London in 1455 and were regular spots for the dissolute and criminals.
King Henry V111 was a lawn bowler but he also banned the game in 1511 for labourers, servants and people of a similar social standing, although they could still play on Christmas Day. The word “bowls” was actually used for the first time in this statute. The ban was lifted following his death in 1547.
The invention of the lawn mower by Edwin Budding of Thrupp, near Stroud, in 1830 is strongly believed to have sparked the creation of bowling greens, even though the mower was originally invented for the cutting of the “nap” on the woollen cloth, (as can be seen in the Stroud museum). This in turn led to the codification and the rules of lawn bowls, as well as other sports such as football and lawn tennis.
In 1864 William Wallace Mitchel published a Manual Of Bowls and this became the basis of the rules of the modern game.
Nailsworth Mills Bowling Club was founded in 1900 and is now based within the Nailsworth Mills Industrial Estate.
New members are welcome to this friendly and social bowling club and regular mixed friendly and league games are played during the week and weekends.
Taster sessions, open days and the popular Friday evening club nights are open to visitors and prospective new members during the bowls season starting in Mid-April.
The full details including directions, contact numbers, or just turn up at our Friday evening Club nights which start at 6.30 pm all can be seen on the Nailsworth Mills Bowling Club website www.nailsworthmillsbowls.club
Historians have traced the sport of bowls all the way back to the 13th century. Several manuscripts of the period were found to include drawings of people playing bowls, or at least a rudimentary version of it. The world’s oldest surviving bowling green is the Southampton Old Bowling Green, which was first played on in 1299.
Both the British Royal Family and Parliament became concered that the growing popularity of bowls would stop people practising archery , which was an important skill for battle. It was forbidden in the reighs of Edward 111, Richard 11 and other monarchs. The prohibition even continued after the invention of gunpowder and firearms.
Bowling alleys had first been established in London in 1455 and were regular spots for the dissolute and criminals.
King Henry V111 was a lawn bowler but he also banned the game in 1511 for labourers, servants and people of a similar social standing, although they could still play on Christmas Day. The word “bowls” was actually used for the first time in this statute. The ban was lifted following his death in 1547.
The invention of the lawn mower by Edwin Budding of Thrupp, near Stroud, in 1830 is strongly believed to have sparked the creation of bowling greens, even though the mower was originally invented for the cutting of the “nap” on the woollen cloth, (as can be seen in the Stroud museum). This in turn led to the codification and the rules of lawn bowls, as well as other sports such as football and lawn tennis.
In 1864 William Wallace Mitchel published a Manual Of Bowls and this became the basis of the rules of the modern game.
Nailsworth Mills Bowling Club was founded in 1900 and is now based within the Nailsworth Mills Industrial Estate.
New members are welcome to this friendly and social bowling club and regular mixed friendly and league games are played during the week and weekends.
Taster sessions, open days and the popular Friday evening club nights are open to visitors and prospective new members during the bowls season starting in Mid-April.
The full details including directions, contact numbers, or just turn up at our Friday evening Club nights which start at 6.30 pm all can be seen on the Nailsworth Mills Bowling Club website www.nailsworthmillsbowls.club
