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The information below has been gathered from various sources and is generally factual. Although there are some gaps in the detail, research is ongoing in an effort to fill these in. If you have any pictures or evidence which could help, please contact the club secretary at.....secretary@guisboroughpriorybowls.co.uk Click on the images to view & to enlarge, click on the new image if the magnifying glass appears for a larger view.
The earliest recorded evidence of lawn bowling in Guisborough comes in the form of a sketch by Leonard Knyff (1650 - 1721) who was a Dutch draughtsman and painter, who collaborated with Johannes Kip to produce views of country houses and gardens. His drawing of “The Seat of William Chaloner Esq. of Gisborough in Cleaveland in the County of Yorke c1708” shows what appears to be a bowling green to the west of the priory. This is supported by an ordnance survey type drawing dated 1773 clearly showing a “bowling green” in the same location as the one shown on the Knyff drawing.
Although this bowling green has long gone, it can be seen from a more recent overhead picture that the plot of land shown on the 1773 survey drawing can be pinpointed in front of the priory by its trapezium shape. The dovecote, which is still in existence can also be used as a reference point between the latest view and the Knyff drawing.
Could this bowling green be the original “Guisborough Priory Bowls Club” ??
The Challoner building shown in the picture above was demolished around 1825 & presumably the bowling green was demolished with the estate.
Although it is not yet known whether there was any continuity of bowling in Guisborough following the demise of the Challoner green, it is known that a bowling green existed behind the old Co-operative buildings off Westgate. Aerial pictures clearly show the green, alongside which are tennis courts. These pictures are reputed to have been taken in the 1920’s. The view of the town from west end clearly shows the dovecote and strip of land which was the old bowling green mentioned earlier. (fig. v.)
Local information suggests that the Co-op bowling green was closed in the mid 1930’s to make way for the Co-op coal yard with all the bowling equipment transferred to the towns cricket club. This area is now a part of the Morrisons Store. It can be seen from the modern picture that the approximate area would have been over the loading area of the store.
Documented history is very sketchy during this early period, we do know however from local EBA (English Bowling Association) records that a Guisborough Bowling Club was one of the founder members of the local EBA league which was formed in 1936. The Secretary at that time being Mr G Bishop.
It is recorded that during the war years of 1942 that the club had to withdraw from the league due to “lack of travelling facilities”. This period of exclusion lasted until 1950 when the club was re-elected to the league at the EBA annual General Meeting held on 2nd December 1950. The Chairman at that time was Mr R C Ramsdale.
The clubs first season on returning to the league was not covered in glory. Records show that from 16 matches played, the club lost 15 and drew 1.The final league position for the club in 1951 is not recorded.
It is uncertain where bowling took place during this period, although it has been suggested that bowlers utilised the lawn tennis areas of the cricket club for their bowling activities The tennis courts occupied the area of the present bowling green and have long since gone. This situation is not unusual, as many bowling clubs originated from similar sources. It is also unclear whether the present club had any affiliation with the Co-op bowling green. Discussions with the Co-operative Society archives have provided no information on the bowling green, however, an interesting fact is mentioned in a pamphlet from Guisborough Provident Industrial Society 1873-1948. The bowling green is not mentioned in the text, but there is a picture labelled ‘Mr H Mayhew (general manager) and Mr W Cowen (secretary) on the society’s bowling green.’ A similar picture has been located in the Guisborough museum archives. The significance of this, is that the first Chairman of the present club was Mr H Mayhew & when he passed away, he bequeathed £10 to the club which was used to purchase a cup which is played for each year as the men’s championship trophy. A further picture of interest shows members of the Co-op Bowls Club on the green. Behind the green can be seen the tennis courts (marked by the pole fence) with Chapel Street beyond. The names of the members shown are unknown. Could these players be the forerunners of the present club??
The present club was created by the cricket club in 1946 to “provide members of the cricket club with a less demanding sport when they retired from active participation on the cricket field” (taken from GPBC minutes Jan. 23rd 1983). This new bowling green was laid on the site of tennis courts which were apparently moved to a new location. The official name of the bowls section of the cricket club was “Guisborough Cricket Bowling Club” (recorded in the GPBC AGM minutes 1976)
All of the original equipment was provided by the cricket club, some of which was probably the equipment mentioned earlier from the Co-op bowling green.
The original club house was no more than a wooden shed which can be seen on the 1958 photograph to the south of the green. The present club house and facilities were initially provided by sections of the Cricket Club and was opened in 1958 by Mr N Sellars who played cricket for Guisborough Town.
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