Welcome To The Bowling Club

Great Torrington Bowling Club was founded in 1645 during the English Civil War and is believed to be the third oldest club in England. The green is sited on Castle Hill in the old castle grounds and the castellated wall surrounding it was constructed by Lord Rolle in about 1846 for the town. The club changing room used to be in the gazebo in the corner of the ground then a wooden club house was erected by the members later to be replaced with a permanent brick built building. There was an extension built by a club member who was a local builder to accommodate a bar and is aptly named Crocker Bar after him. During the winter season of 2004/05 two further extensions were built on to the existing building to accommodate proper changing rooms and toilets for both the ladies and gents. The original ladies toilet was converted for disabled use and the gents was turned into a store room. During the winter some of the members wished to play Short Mat so formed a club called Great Torrington Short Mat Bowling Club but although most of the members were members of the main club the two clubs were run separately until September 2013 when they amalgamated and are now run as one club under one committee.