Castle Green Bowlers Start Their New Season and You Can Join This Friendly Club

Published on: 3 May, 2026
Updated on: 3 May, 2026

Castle Green Bowling Club has ‘probably the prettiest bowling green in the region.’

By Martin Giles (video editing Esme Campbell)

Castle Green Bowling Club is starting a new season and is looking for new members. Shirley West, who is celebrating 40 years’ membership, says you will not find a friendlier bowling club to join.

Watch Martin Giles’ interview with several of the club members…

Club’s history (extracted from the club’s website).

Today’s Castle Green Bowling Club, nearly 100 years old, is proud of its history and the fact that bowls has been played on the site for so many years. A street plan for the town dated 1739 that shows the bowling green in its present position next to the Castle Keep.

The Castle Grounds were opened to the public as a pleasure ground on June 28, 1888 – also the 50th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Victoria.

The bowling green in the Castle Grounds, with the keep or great tower in the background, believed to have been taken in the 1920s.

Various picture postcards from the 1900s show people walking or sitting on the area of the bowling green. It appears that for some time after the Castle Grounds had opened it had ceased to be used for bowls. However, by 1907 the game was being played there once more.

the Castle Green Bowling Club was formed in 1923, there was no clubhouse until the 1970s. The all-important tea was taken in various cafes and restaurants around the town. Lyons teashop in the High Street was once such venue.

Although the club was not well off financially, there was an indomitable spirit of its members and the generosity of those donating trophies.

Over the years, membership of the club fluctuated. At the club’s inception 40 people were interested in joining. In 1945 there were 61 members. By the early 1960s the number had dropped to below 12.

The club was saved from extinction by the generosity of an anonymous female donor. The enthusiasm of a few loyal members saw the club through during this time of crisis.

Bowlers at the Castle Green Bowling Club in the early 1960s.

In 1969 the club agreed to take female members. New members were recruited when the London Transport Bowling Club folded in 1972.

Today, Brian and Shirley West are stalwart members in the club. They also organise charity matches and fundraising activities. Their son Gary is also a keen bowler and a proud past winner of the Mayor of Guildford’s singles championship, after being a five-time losing semi-finalist.

Without doubt, the sight of white-clad bowlers on the green on a lovely summer’s Sunday afternoon, is a joy to see.