History

Abergavenny Bowls Club was founded at the Great Western Hotel in 1860, the first known photograph of the club hangs in the Clubhouse alongside the names and occupations of 20 members, and an unnamed young man on the flank. In the background can be seen part of the Railway Station building and the slopes of the Little Skirrid.

Bowls alongside Archery is said to be the oldest of British outside pastimes. Yet in it's early years this most refined of games was subject to repressive legislation because the frequent association of bowling greens with taverns encouraged the association of gamesters and others of dissolute character. It was Great Britain's taverns and Inns which saw the game flourish as the greens were often seen as a pulling point for thirsty punters!

Of course Abergavenny was no exception and there used to be a piece of land behind the Great Western Hotel on which a Bowling Green was laid out. It was improved and enlarged by the hotelier Mr James Howard at his own expense and because of it's location the club was sometimes called The Little Skirrid Green Club.

The Abergavenny Chronicle's founder Edwin Morgan was the first President of the club after it was officially reorganised and recognised as the Abergavenny Bowls Club in 1878. In 1882 he handed over the office to F.C. Hanbury Williams whilst stating "new blood was now needed to guide the club." 

In the late 1890's interest in the club appeared to wane and many believe 1895 was the year in which the club ceased to meet at the Great Western Hotel green. The decline in interest in the game could be the lack of younger players coming forward but also because Abergavenny Cricket Club moved to it's permanent home at Avenue Road and offered a rival attraction for those interested in summer games and an associated social life. Yet help was at hand when the Cricket Club offered the Bowling Club a chance to re-establish itself at it's present home at Avenue Road.

During subsequent seasons it is worth noting that several cricketers were to be found in the lists of bowls players from time to time and it would appear relations between the two clubs were most amicable. The First World War in 1914 brought important changes to the Abergavenny Cricket Club. After much soul searching the club virtually closed down it's sporting activities because so many of the playing members were with the Colours. The Bowling Club was not affected in the same way due to the age of their members. In those days young men were never seen on the green as serious players. 

1921 and 1922 revealed an abysmally low quality of play in competitive games by the club leading F.H. Facey to comment at the Annual Dinner in the autumn of 1922 "If we did not win matches we were jolly good losers." This complacency was rudely shattered by the announcement of the Borough Council decision of December 18th 1922 to lay a Bowling Green and six Tennis Courts at Bailey Park. The club could not continue in it's slapdash way and face defeat by an upstart rival in the town. In the 1930's there was a universal emphasis on competitive rather than social bowling and Abergavenny's fixture list was expanded and affiliation with the Monmouthshire Bowling Association took place.

Abergavenny Bowls Club Bowlers represented Wales in the 1962 British Empire & commonwealth Games in Perth. Albert Evans came 10th in the Single's.Tom Griffiths & Lynn Probert played in the Pairs and finished in 8th place. Claude Stephens, Lynn Probert, Tom Griffiths & Albert Evans competed in the Fours and finished in 5th place.                                                                                                           WELSH CHAMPIONS   SINGLES 1951 & 1961 Albert Evans. 1963 Lynn Probert .  PAIRS   1953 Claude Stephens & Albert Evans  2016 Gethin Hill & Matthew Vale. FOURS 1960 Claude Stephens, Lynn Probert, Tom Griffiths & Albert Evans.1988 John Evans, Gethin Hill, John Anstey & Mark Anstey.  1989 John Evans, Gethin Hill, John Anstey & Mark Anstey

The MBA Singles Title was won by J. Evenson in 1937, by I. Ross in 1946 and by M. Samuel in 1991. Abergavenny won the Open Pairs in 1938, 1949, 1961, 1985 and 1987 and the Triples in 1975 and 1985.The Fours (Rinks) were won in 1948, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1987 and 2005. Abergavenny had success in the Over 60's Pairs in 1995, 1999 and 2011.                                                                                               The under 18's title was won by R. Poynter in 1999. We have two Champion of Champion winners J. Beaton in 1980 and R. Poynter in 2008.

The  Nevill Ladies merged with Abergavenny Bowls Club in 2010, before that they were only allowed to use the green on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Their history is a Mystery to me although they had Welsh Champions in the Triples in 1977 with  J. Griffiths, J. Howells and Lilian Nicholas and in the Pairs in 1983 with Lillian Nicholas and J. Howells.

The Future

We are striving to make the Club Fully Inclusive as soon as possible, the work done on the paths around the Green along with the removal of the old storm damaged hedge has made access to the Green much easier and with a little more work and additional aids will be disabled accessible. The Clubhouse requires a great amount of work to give access to all and plans are being prepared to make this possible. 

We would like to be able to start a Junior Section to the Club and this requires careful planning to comply with all the safeguarding measures which are required - we do already have DBS Checked Qualified Coaches and Safeguarding Officers. We have to make more enquiries to make sure that we have "ticked all the boxes" to make sure all Juniors are safe while they are with us.

We have a VI (Visually Impaired) Coach and some players who have various degrees of Visual Impairment and we would welcome more as it is not a barrier to playing Bowls.

There is no easy access to the Clubhouse for Wheelchair users and no Accessible Toilet Facilities but we are determined that this will change but it will take a little time and money.

Sponsorship will be very important for our future to be able to provide all the required equipment and as a self supporting Club we appreciate any help local businesses can give us.