History

Handcross Bowls Club was formed before 1906 (the exact date is not known) for the benefit of the residents of Handcross Village, both Ladies and Gentlemen, and is run by an annually elected committee. Its two-rink ground was situated at the rear of the Red Lion Public House and the membership at the time was 15.

The first record of the club was in the Parish Magazine of 1906 where is stated that ‘following a coach accident on Handcross Hill, a number of people were killed and the bodies were laid out on the bowls green at the rear of the Red Lion Public House’.

In 1932 the club was offered a larger site at the rear of the Handcross Parish Hall. The ground was leased from the Royal British Legion until 2011, when the lease expired. A ‘peppercorn’ rent is paid. The facilities at that time being a three-rink green and the use of the Parish Hall. The club has no living members from that time.

In 1996 the membership of the club was 16. As this was considered an insufficient number to support the rising cost of running the club, it was decided to open its membership to other local villages, with the emphasis remaining on Handcross residents.

This is still the basis of the membership today. The response was excellent and it was agreed to restrict the membership to 50.

To accommodate this number of bowlers, it was necessary to provide another rink. A fourth rink was achieved by the members through fund raising events, putting their hands deeply into their pockets and by providing the labour and materials.

In the following years, improvements were made to the ground and facilities by providing a pavilion and changing rooms for all members and visitors, both Ladies and Gentlemen.

As before, the members efforts and fund raising ensured its success.

The average age of members at this time in 1992 was in the 60s and it was thought that by increasing the number of members to sixty, this average age would be reduced. However, the average age today is still in the high 60s.

The members through the years have continued to improve the facilities of the club.

Handcross Bowls Club is affiliated to Sussex County Bowls (S.C.B.), and enters teams into many competitions, through invitation and by annual application.

Many of these competitions, as well as the usual friendly fixtures on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, are played both at Handcross and other Sussex and Surrey grounds throughout the outdoor season.