HISTORY OF KNIGHTON BOWLING CLUB

 

Old Map of Knighton circa 1850Picture of the Old Green in Circa 1880The early days of the Club are unclear for the moment and are the subject of further research. There was a bowling green shown on maps of Knighton in 1850 (shown on the left - click on the picture for a larger version), in what is still known as Bowling Green Lane. As yet we have not ascertained how long this green was in use, research continues.  In addition we have found a photograph (shown on the right - click on the photograph for a larger version) which is believed to date back to 1880 which shows a bowling green located in the area of what is now Victoria Road. That is within a few hundred yards of the current green, the area was redeveloped from about 1890 onwards so that green must have been swallowed up by the development. The question then arises as to where bowling moved to between 1890 and 1933 when the present green opened. Again research continues into this, it may well be that the green in Bowling Green Lane continued to be used.

Newspaper Cutting from 1933 celebrating the Opening of the current greenWhat we do know, thanks to a recently discovered Newspaper cutting (shown on the left - click the photo for a larger version), is that the current green was opened in 1933. The green was developed on land which was previously owned by the Owens family who lived in ‘Ystrad House’ next door to the green hence the reference in the photograph to Ystrad Bowling Club. At that time the ‘Club House’ was located in the loft of the Stables/Coach House of Ystrad House with a wooden staircase leading directly from the green.  This remained until the club house was built in the 1960s, which was later extended to provide a larger clubhouse, kitchen and bar. The Club has continued on the same site since, the green was completely rebuilt by the council in the early 1990s.

Presidents Game 2009

Unfortunately the newspaper cutting which dated the opening of the green was discovered too late to celebrated our 75th Anniversary in 2008. It was decided that we would ask the President of the Welsh Bowling Association to bring a team to the Club in 2009 to celebrate our 75th + 1 Anniversary. President Alan Thomas kindly brought his team and the match was played on 8th September 2009 (shown on the right - click the photo for a larger version).

The Ladies look forward to celebrating their 50th Anniversary next year (2011) having first formed in 1961.