A Century of Bowling - Royal County of Berkshire Bowling Association

KINTBURY BOWLS CLUB
• Founded 1925
• Recreation Ground, Inkpen Road, Kintbury
• Affliated 1928 and then again 1980
In the early 1920’s the village of Kintbury was given a recreation ground by our
benefactor, Mr. Arthur Stuart Gladstone, and in 1925 a bowling green was laid, and
a brick-built pavilion for the Kintbury Bowls Club constructed.
A photograph taken in 1936, shows that bowls is a popular sport with some 35 players
shown in that photograph. Mainly friendly matches were played, and Kintbury became well
known for their teas, which always included lard cake made by Mr. Rolfe, one of the founder
members of the Club.
During the war, because of the lack of male players, ladies were needed to make up
teams, and Kintbury became a mixed club. We were also involved with the formation of a
competitive league of small local clubs, together with Stockcross, Lambourn, Ramsbury and
Great Bedwyn, named “The Ashley Baker League”, after the man who provided the trophy.
The Club has gone through bad spells, with diminished membership, but has survived up to
the present. It is now involved in The Kennet League LX only, due to membership, but still
plays in the Ashley Baker League, which is a mixed league.
Over the years, a new building has been added to provide changing rooms, a kitchen and
a bar area. Kintbury has hosted County matches, and some of our members have become
County players. The green has been improved by the addition of a concrete ditch, a watering
system and under green drainage.
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