Kendal Subscription Bowling Club

The date the club was established and the original site, are both unknown.

The venue is thought to have been down at the old post office yard, in Highgate.

Below is the known part of our history.

1861 - Kendal Fell Act forbidding sale of land on Skewbarrow field repealed.

1862- W&J. Thompson purchased 697 sq. yards of Skewbarrow field for £40-13-6.

1870 - Ist definite date of club's existence. AGM held in Kent Tavern

1875 - Mrs Birkett to be paid 2/6 (12.5p) for keeping Green key.

May, 1881 - Notice to quit ground from owner - Mr Wilkinson.

Oct, 1881 - Granted extension of lease to Nov llth, 1882.

Sept 1882 - Club wound up.

May, 1882 - W.Thompson leased the land to Kendal Bowling Club ltd for 21 years at £5p.a.

The following were the founders of the "new" club in 1882 - Many if not all were prominent members of the "old" club.

J.Robinson - Hotel proprieter

J.McLaren - Flour dealer

J.Blacow - Hat manufacturer

J.W. Fleming - Draper's assistant

R.Rudd - Stationer

W.Wilson - Grocer

C.Kipling - Bootmaker

W.Edmondson - Chemist

T.Savage - Commercial traveller

W.Jackson - Painter

J.Otway - Fruiterer

F.J.Thomber - Auctioneer

Mar, 1883 - Green opened as Kendal Subscription Bowling Club.

Feb, 1889 - Land transferred to W. Thompson's grandsons.

June, 1901 - Land sold for £80 to W.Edmondson - Gentleman and O.Thompson - China dealer.

July, 1901 - Edmonson sold his half share to Thompson for £42-10.

*May 12th, 1923 - Thompson sold the 697 sq yards for £200 to a consortium of 12 club members.

* The 12 Club members were:

W.C-Birkett - Draper

J.-W.Carlisle - Provision merchant

P.S.Corbctt - Agricultural officer

T.Dawson - Engineer

R.Dobson - Sanitary inspector

A.G.Gates - Tobacconist

H.Gawith - Soliticor's clerk

G.German - Assistant surveyor

W.B. IIlingworth - Insurance broker

D.Livingstone - Boot manufacturer

G.Notman - Police Supt.

G. Smaith - Commercial clerk

Oct 10th, 1923 - The club leased 926 sq. yards from Kendal Town Council at £3 per year.

Mar 24th, 1930 - K.S.B.C. purchased 697 sq. yards from the 12 members for £240.

Oct, 1937 - Lease for the 926 sq. yards renewed for 14 years at £5 p.a. Repeat renewals in 1951 and 1965.

1978 - Council offers the 926 sq. yards to the club for the sum of £2000.

1978 - Negotiations between the council and J.W.Bell on behalf of the club resulted in the £2000 being awarded to the club from the lottery fund.

1979 - Member N.H. Inman executed the legalities and the club became the soleowner of the land and buildings after 97 years of occupation.

1980 - Mrs. M. Parker became the first lady member.

1989 - Title changed to the K.S.B.C. (1870) on severing connection with Friendly Society register.

1993 - Mrs. J. Grosvenor becomes the first lady president of the club.