Hertford Castle Bowls Club

Hertford Castle Bowls Club - Club History

HERTFORD CASTLE CLUB HISTORY
1910 The Garden Bowling Club is formed

On the 4th July 1910, a meeting was held at Mr Rose’s garden in Hertingfordbury Road, to consider the question as to ‘the desirability or otherwise’ of forming a Bowling Club with Cowbridge Congregational Church. It was agreed to go ahead, with Rev. A. L. Whitmee as President, W. Drury as Treasurer, and G. Rushworth as Secretary. Membership was confined to members of the Congregation assembling at the Congregational Church.


It was agreed to purchase 4 pairs of bowls, and an entrance fee (to become a member of the club) of 2s.6d to be charged. Each game would be 15 points, and the green fee was one halfpenny for each member playing.


It was agreed that the Club would be called “The Garden Bowling Club” and the green was in Mr. Rose’s garden, which was behind the brick wall where the present roundabout is situated on the Hertingfordbury Road.
The Club had 20 members.

(extract from "A History of Hertford Castle Bowling Club 1910 to 1990" by Ted Ford)

1925   The Club moves to play in the Hertford Castle grounds. The green was at the rear of the Hertford Town Council offices. (The green is still visible where the flower beds and car park are now).

1933   The name changes to "Hertford Garden Bowls Club".

1944   On the 30th November the name was changed to "Castle Garden Bowls Club Hertford".

1951   The Bowls Section of Hertford (Evening) Townswoman's Guild is formed.

1953   Both the men's and ladies’ clubs move to the new Wallfields Green.

1964   The Ladies reform as "Hertford Ladies".

1978   The men change their name to "Hertford Castle Garden Bowling Club".

2002   The Ladies’ and men’s clubs merge to form a single club called the "Hertford Castle Bowling Club".

2003   The Club changes its name to the "Hertford Castle Bowls Club".

2012   The club plays again in the Castle grounds as part of the celebrations to mark the castle grounds being open to the public for 100 years.



G. Butt, 2012