Northampton West End Bowls Club

The club was founded in 1897, clubhouse and green was located by the walls of the old Northampton Castle, hence the castle on the clubs logo. The clubs location was also next door to the Northampton Saints Rugby Football Club, Franklin Gardens in the St.James area of the town. One of the town’s swimming baths was next door to the club.

In the late 1890/1900’s several clubs were being formed including the Northamptonshire Bowling Association which was founded in 1906. The Kingsthorpe Bowling Club was founded in 1896 and the Northampton County Ground Bowling Club was founded in 1898. With three Northampton clubs being formed within three years of each other they played for a Centenary trophy over the years 1996/97/98 with Northampton West End Bowling Club winning the trophy.

In 1963 the West End Bowling Club moved its clubhouse and green to a new location in Duston, Northampton. We understand that some of the green went missing over night during this relocation and only about 2/3 of the original green was laid and the rest was reseeded to form a new bowling green. The original clubhouse is still being used today with several extension being added over the years, in 1987 a brick extension was built to form a new bar and lounge area, in 2001 additional changing rooms were put in place in the form of portacabins, giving the  club a new gents and ladies changing room and toilets.

The club has also have had several of our member serve the Northamptonshire Bowling Association with County Presidents over the years, these include the following members  W.Munks 1932, T. Roberts 1958, W.P.Wilford 1973, H.C. Heeler 1989, G.K. Hunt 2003, & J. Ruff 2004.

Several of members playing for the Bowls Northamptonshire under 25’s team, over the last 3 years one of our members Jamie Walker has had the honour of being captain of the Bowls England under 25’s team. A number of members also play the Bowls Northamptonshire Middleton Cup team during the summer months.