Bowls
You don't need to spend time researching for the best Bowls equipment. We have the best for all styles of Bowls. As always, Masters Traditional Games only sources from the oldest and most reputable companies in the trade. In this case, we mainly source from Drakes Pride, who have been the leading Bowls manufacturer for many decades.
Indoor
Bowls
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Crown
Green Bowls
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Jacks
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Short
Mat Bowls
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Carpet
Bowls
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Family
Garden Bowls
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Bowls Accessories |
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Bowls
Bags
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Bowls
Measures |
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Bowls
Polishing Kit
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Bowls
Umpires Kit
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Target
Bowls Mat
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See also Table Bowls
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The Origin of Bowls
Bowls historians believe that bowls developed from the Egyptians. One of their pastimes was to play skittles with round stones. This has been determined based on artefacts found in tombs dating circa 5,000 B.C. The sport spread across the world and took on a variety of forms, Bocce (Italian), Bolla (Saxon), Bolle (Danish), Boules (French) and Ula Miaka (Polynesian). The oldest Bowls green still played on is in Southampton, England where records show that the green has been in operation since 1299 A.D. There are other claims of greens being in use before that time, but these are, as yet, unsubstantiated
King Henry VIII was a lawn bowler. However, he banned the game for those who were not wealthy or "well to do" because "Bowyers, Fletchers, Stringers and Arrowhead makers" were spending more time at recreational events such as bowls instead of practising their trade. Henry VIII requested that anybody who wished to keep a bowling green pay a fee of 100 pounds. However, the green could only be used for private bowls play and he forbade anyone to "play at any bowle or bowles in open space out of his own garden or orchard". In 1845, the ban was lifted, and people were again allowed to play bowls and other games of skill.
Nowadays, Bowls is a hugely popular world sport. It appears in a variety of guises - Lawn Bowls and Indoor Bowls are recognised International sports with formal bodies at all levels. Crown Green Bowls is also a major pastime for thousands of people but this game is restricted more to the British Isles. The smaller modern indoor versions of the game - Shortmat Bowls and Carpet Bowls are also more of a British game but are less popular. Table Bowls appears to have turned up in the 19th century around the Carlisle area and although, it has never become hugely popular has apparently spread as far afield as Australia...
You can learn more about the Bowls from from The Online Guide to Traditional Games.