Helston Bowling Club

Helston Bowling Club. The Monument, Monument Road, Helston. Cornwall. TR13 8HE

Tel: 01326 563 471

Club Secretary. Mrs J.A. Fisher. (e-mail) graham_94@hotmail.com

Helston Bowling Club was formed in 1760. Details of its early history are not available.

In those early days, the game of bowls was very different from to-day. There were no other teams to compete with, and even later when other clubs were formed, lack of transport, until the opening of the railways, would have made it impossible to play matches against them.

In 1828 an article written by a Helston Grammar School boy in the Cornishman, Vol. II, states `there was a very pretty bowling green at the bottom of the steep street where we played `Prison Bars`. It was never used for bowls but it was very well kept`. This was during the time Coleridge was headmaster at the school and Charles Kingsley a pupil.

Club records are a little sketchy but the following extracts from a report of the club`s Annual General meeting taken from the Cornishman, dated 25th March 1909 report that: The green for the most part was in good condition. At that time a small hand mower was used to cut the grass and a heavy horse drawn roller was used occasionally. The hooves of the horse were covered with several thicknesses of Hessian sacking to protect the green.

The treasurer reported a balance in hand of £13.10.0 which with subscriptions £44.1.6 made a total of £57.11.6 after expences a balance of £1.11.0 was left.

At the A.G.M. in 1940 Mr. Crute ( Chairman) expressed the appreciation of the members to Mr Moyle for his fine bowling in winning the County Championship

It is reported that in 1890 Bob Fitzsimmons, who was born in a house in Wendron Street and later became the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, occasionally played bowls on the Helston Green.

New outdoor season starts on Saturday 12th April 2:00pm (whites)

COME AND JOIN US - ALL ARE WELCOME

Last updated: 22/09/2008

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