History - Stow Bowling Club
Origins of Bowls
It seems amazing to us today that Bowls originated in ancient
Egypt and has been played in England since the 13th century.
It waxed and
waned in popularity until the mid-19th century, when it experienced a revival,
especially in Scotland. The Scots developed flat greens and drew up rules
that remain largely unchanged.
We know that Stow Bowling Club was Founded in 1891,
however, I came across reference to "Bowling Green" in a document
of "Tacks" meaning Leases on behalf of George Innes of Stow.
It is dated 1762
viz:- to William Bryden, tenant in Stow, of a dwelling house joined to the
west end of another, between Bowling Green and the Stow Burn, for 11 years.
In searching old maps the only thing that it might be is shown here as "44"
a square shaped plot. It could fit with the description of the Tack described
above, if we assume that "Stow Burn" is the stream that we now know
as "The Mill Lade"
It is likely that the location of any pre-existing Bowling Green was different to the present day location.
The Link below shows an OS Map dated 1853 where the present day Green is not
shown
Stow Bowling Club was founded in 1891.
