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We are a small friendly club situated in the beautiful town of Dartmouth. We are affiliated to Bowls England & Bowls Devon.

Our Ladies & Men play in the newly formed (2022) South Devon Mixed Bowling League.

We have a small friendly Mixed Pairs League within the club.

Our playing surface is a 4 rink all weather carpet.

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A brief history of

Dartmouth Bowling Club

Ford Gardens,Victoria Road

It was towards the end of 1904 that the Council took over what was known as ‘Jackman’s’ on ‘Ford Gardens’. The position where most of the Bowling Green is situated was a lock up nursery garden. There were three green houses, 2 spans roofed heated and one cool house against the dividing wall. The 2 heated houses were heated with a small saddle boiler. When the houses were taken down the pipes were used in the green house by the North Embankment gardens.

The higher portion of the ground, leased to Mr Jackman, had to be opened to the public from 10am to 8pm in the Summer and from 10am to 5pm in the Winter. All the ground on the Victoria road side was enclosed with iron railings - taken down during the second world war. On the east wall opposite the entrance to what is now the Children’s Playground was a climbing post called Glynie de Dijon’ probably 70 years old, (since removed). When the Council took over this ground it was laid out with flowerbeds and seats. 

In 1905 several options were looked at for the Gardens before a bowling green was settled on & in March 17th 1905 the Dartmouth Chronicle reported, "Work on laying out Ford Gardens is proceeding under the direction of the surveyor. The Green is to be 120' by 60' with a raised path all round, seats will be provided so that spectators may watch the game without inconvenience. After the green is complete a shelter will be erected with conveniences."

In April 1906 a short notice said "The recently formed Dartmouth Bowling & Tennis club have arranged their first games with Torquay St Mary's & Paignton, other clubs have been written to. The formal opening of the green has been fixed for Wednesday 11th May.