The location of the first bowling green was behind The Bush Hotel itself and occupied the space that now forms the hotel car park.
This is documented by a plan drawn up by Mr J Alfred Eggar offering various plots of adjacent land for sale nine years later on Friday, December 2, 1887.
The last game played on this green was on September 24, 1938, following decisions made in 1937 to move to another site.
Early in 1937 members identified a plot of land in Bear Lane, the freehold of which was being offered for sale for around £300.
To finance the purchase, members were advised to form a limited company and so Farnham Bowling Club Ltd was registered.
Plans were drawn up which would provide for six rinks playable north-south and east-west, a clubhouse, dressing rooms, bar and kitchen and space for seven cars!
Estimates for the work were around £1,550 - but in October 1937 the estimated costs for laying the green and providing a larger clubhouse had risen to £1,900.
Eventually the new green in Bear Lane was officially declared open on July 26, 1938, 60 years since the club’s formation.
At a directors meeting on August 23, 1938, accounts were presented indicating the total costs of the green and buildings was actually £1,700.
Going back in time, it is recorded that subscriptions in 1918 were half a guinea (£0.52), rising to 15 shillings (£0.75) in 1920 then to one guinea (£1.05), and remained at this level until 1939 when it doubled to two guineas (£2.10).
Membership of the club in 1939 is recorded as 74 playing members and 10 social members. Obviously over the years the subscriptions have increased to the current £85 per year – still good value for a worthwhile healthy and active sporting experience.
There was a long battle in the 1920s and 1930s to allow ladies to join the club. The club wouldn’t allow ladies to even play friendlies on the green, so the Farnham Women’s Bowling Club (FWBC) was formed in 1928 at the Gostrey Club as they were not admitted to Bear Lane!
It wasn’t until 1935 that the committee agreed to play home and away games against FWBC, the club acknowledging that: “Ladies could play bowls and their presence would not lead to the disintegration or dissolution of FBC”.
It was not until the 1960s that ladies would be offered full membership at Bear Lane.
Farnham Bowling Club joined the Surrey County Bowling Association in 1914, and during the 1920s was also playing in the Aldershot & District League until withdrawing through lack of interest in 1928.
Today the club plays in the West Surrey League, Aldershot & District League, Farnham & District League, the Three Counties Fellowship and the ladies participate in the Blackwater Valley League.
In 2018, it is the sole surviving bowling club in the centre of Farnham, following the closure of both the Brightwells Club in preparation of the East Street redevelopment scheme, and the Gostrey Club.
Membership reached a peak of more than 100 ladies and gentlemen playing members in the mid-1980s and early 1990s.
Last Sunday (June 10) the club celebrated its 140th anniversary with a game against the Surrey County President’s team.
The club currently has close to 50 ladies and gentlemen playing each week from the end of April through to mid-September.
As well as regular weekly games in the leagues mentioned, various weekend friendlies are enjoyed against local Surrey and Hampshire clubs.
There are also internal competitions to determine, amongst other titles, club champion, men’s champion and ladies’ champion.
All are welcome, whatever age, to join the club to ensure it continues to provide a worthwhile sporting and social presence in the town for many more years to come.
Bear Lane provides a great oasis of calm in the town centre, thanks to the foresight of those back in 1938 who took the opportunity to purchase the land.
? Find a full report of the club’s 140th anniversary match in this week’s Herald sports pages.