HISTORY OF KINGSCLERE BOWLING CLUB
It is not known exactly when bowling at Kingsclere started, but an estate map of the village dated 1725 shows a bowling green at The Anchor Pub. Bowling continued at this location until 1935, when the Holding Family offered bowling facilities on the Cricket Ground. Work started on a three rink green and was completed in 1938. The first match was held in 1938 against Old Basing Bowling Club.
On 1st January 1949, the Holding family granted a lease for fifty years at a cost of one shilling per year for the benefit of tennis, cricket and lawn green bowling. A further two rinks were added in the mid 1960's and the sixth rink added in the early 1980's. From 1935 to the early 1960's the George and Horn public house was used as the club pavilion. This was a bowling club for men only. Women were admitted to the club in the mid 1950's and paid 10/- a year subscription, being half the amount paid by the men. A Women’s Section was formed in the 1960's.
In 1962 the members purchased an ex-construction workers’ hut from AWRE for the sum of £100 and converted it to a Bowling Pavilion. The size of the hut was 5 metres by 15 metres. An extension was added to the club to coincide with the addition of two further rinks in 1965.