9:05am Wednesday 17th March 2010
By Echo Reporter
AFTER 104 years of use it now seems that the gentle click of bowl on jack will no longer be heard at Dorchester’s Borough Gardens following the decision of the Gardens Bowling Club to close after 16 seasons.
The green – one of the oldest in Dorset, and graced over the years by club, county and international Bowls – was first opened by Dorchester Town Council in 1906.
It was the home of Dorchester Bowling Club, and later Dorchester Women’s Bowling Club, until 1990 when the clubs transferred to Fordington Fields on the outskirts of the county town, and began using the new green laid by Dorchester Town Council.
At the same time, Dorchester BC completed the building of a three-rink indoor complex on the new site, with major support of the town council and the West Dorset District Council.
Both of the former borough gardens clubs combined to form what is now known as Dorchester Bowls Club, which boasts roughly 400 members.
With the Borough Gardens green vacated, the facilities continued to be used for social bowling by a small group, who in 1993 formed a new alternative club – the Gardens Bowling Club.
The club attracted new members and teams were formed to play in the county league.
But in recent seasons membership has waned and the town council became concerned at the costs of maintaining the green with reduced income.
Club members were faced with the inevitable choice of attracting more members, dramatically increasing their membership charges, or having to fold.
Following a meeting last week, an unsuccessful attempt to appoint officers left the club with no alternative than to reluctantly disband.
The town council now has to decide upon an alternative use for the green, but it is not known whether the closure of the green will result in any redundancies.
It will be a sad day for many Dorchester bowlers, who over recent years gained success as well as county and national recognition, when the green is finally dug up.
Memories of over a century of competitive and social play will be all that remains.
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