Bowls historians believe that the game developed from the Egyptians. One of their pastimes was to play skittles with round stones. This has been determined based on artefacts found in tombs dating circa 5,000 B.C. The sport spread across the world and took on a variety of forms, Bocce (Italian), Bolla (Saxon), Bolle (Danish), Boules (French) and Ula Miaka (Polynesian). The oldest Bowls green still played on is in Southampton, England where records show that the green has been in operation since 1299 A.D. There are other claims of greens being in use before that time, but these are, as yet, unsubstantiated.

Certainly the most famous story in lawn bowls is with Sir Frances Drake and the Spanish Armada. On July 18, 1588, Drake was involved in a game at Plymouth Hoe when he was notified that the Spanish Armada were approaching.

His immortalised response was that "We still have time to finish the game and to thrash the Spaniards, too." He then proceeded to finish the match which he lost before embarking on the fight with the Armada which he won. Whether this famous story really took place has been heavily debated.

King Henry VIII was also a lawn bowler. However, he banned the game for those who were not wealthy or "well to do" because "Bowyers, Fletchers, Stringers and Arrowhead makers" were spending more time at recreational events such as bowls instead of practising their trade. Henry VIII requested that anybody who wished to keep a green pay a fee of 100 pounds. However, the green could only be used for private play and he forbade anyone to "play at any bowle or bowles in open space out of his own garden or orchard".

King James I issued a publication called "The Book of Sports" and, although he condemned football (soccer) and golf, encouraged the play of bowls. In 1845, the ban was lifted, and people were again allowed to play bowls and other games of skill. The earliest documented use of the word 'Jack' in Bowls is from 1611 "Was there euer man had such lucke? when I kist the Iacke vpon an vp-cast, to be hit away?". It appears that Jack in some contexts meant a slightly smaller version of something - in this case a 'Jack-Bowl', later shortened to 'Jack'. In 1697 R. Pierce wrote "He had not Strength to throw the Jack-Bowl half over the Green".

Haydon Wick Bowls Club
www.haydonwickbc.co.uk
Haydon Wick Community Leisure Centre
Thames Avenue
Swindon
SN25 1QQ
Tel:+44(0)1793 703331

Highworth Bowls Club
Swindon Road
Highworth
Nr Swindon
SN6 7SJ
Tel: +44(0)1793 765471
www.highworthbowlsclub.org

Marlborough Bowls Club
Recreation Field
Salisbury Road
Marlborough
Wiltshire
Tel: +44(0)1672 513980

Rodbourne Cheney Bowls Club
Cheney Manor Road
Swindon
Tel: +44(0)1793 522387

Swindon County Ground Bowls Club
County Ground Complex
County Road
Swindon
Tel: +44(0)1793 511078 

Wootton Bassett Bowls Club
Tanners Close
Wootton Bassett
Tel: +44(0)1793 854083

The English Bowling Association
www.bowlsengland.com
The English Bowling Association is the governing body for men's outdoor flat green bowling in England.

Wiltshire Bowls Association
www.bowlsclub.org
Mr A Woodland
"Isca"
16 Bute Close
Highworth
Swindon
SN6 7HN
Tel : +44(0)1793 763922
E-mail: ABWoodland@aol.com