Dartmouth Bowling Club
Founded May 1906

The group meets  Wednesday pm, Saturday am, and Tuesday pm (summer only) at the Bowling Green Victoria Road.

£58 per year and £2 per session for visitors.

 

 

It was towards the end of 1904 that the Council took over what was known as ‘Jackman’s’ on ‘Ford Gardens’.
When the Council took over this ground it was a lock up nursery garden laid out with flowerbeds and seats.

In 1905 several options were looked at for the Gardens before a bowling green was settled on & on March 17th 1905 the Dartmouth Chronicle reported, "Work on laying out Ford Gardens is proceeding under the direction of the surveyor. The Green is to be 120' by 60' with a raised path all round, seats will be provided so that spectators may watch the game without inconvenience. After the green is complete a shelter will be erected with conveniences."

The first bowling green that was laid contained only three rinks, it had a grass bank around the sides & steps leading down to the Green. At the top and bottom of these steps there were concrete vases. Some of these can still be seen around the War Memorial and others by the Fishpond in the Royal Avenue gardens

In April 1906 a notice said "The recently formed Dartmouth Bowling & Tennis club have arraigned their fist games with Torquay St Mary's & Paignton, other clubs have been written to. The formal opening of the green was fixed for Wednesday 11th May, when in a few well-chosen remarks Alderman Ellis said it was his a duty to transfer of the green from the custody of the town council to the bowling club. Already the membership number, about 50, was a very good beginning and he trusted that the number would increase and that the club would prosper. Alderman Ellis then threw the first Jack, and declared the green opened.

Two interesting games were then played by the teams captained by the President of the club (Councilor Medway) and the honorary secretary (Mr. A S J Pope). The first game was won by the Secretary's team by two points, and the second by the President's team by seven points. During the evening an excellent program of music was performed by the Borough Band.

During the bowling season as well as a full program of league & friendly matches the club meets every Tuesday evening, 6.30 pm at the green in Victoria Road. New members, visiting bowlers and spectators are always welcome.
 

Secretary John Tremlett, 43 Southford Road, Dartmouth TQ6 9QT  john.tremlett@talktalk.net

 

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