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About UsKETTERING LODGE BOWLING CLUB was founded in 1880 - its first green being on a property owned by WilliamHanger and known as 'The Castle', 20 The Headlands, Kettering. In 1898 the Club leased the current premises in Northampton Road, Kettering, from the Duke of Buccleuch, who owned the majority of the property in that area. The Club did not move into Northampton Road, however, until the end of September 1900, with play commencing on the newly laid green in 1901. Five days after Armistice Day, 16th November 1918, the premises became the property of the Club and so it has continued to the present day. The current outdoor membership is 70 men and 40 ladies. In 1982, it was decided that part of the premises should be developed by building an Indoor Bowling Green. The available space dictated the unit should be a four-rink venue with car parking space under the building. The new facility was named KETTERING & DISTRICT INDOOR BOWLING CLUB and officially opened in October 1983 by the Mayor of Kettering - Councillor David Coe. The list of founder members shows there were 399 men and 129 ladies. Over the next year or two the membership rose to 643, with players coming to the Club from a very wide area of Northamptonshire. Bowling was, during the 1980's such a popular sport that it was not long before other Clubs developed Indoor facilities resulting in a lower membership as bowlers moved to Clubs nearer their homes. The current membership is 200 men and 100 ladies. In 2005, during the Outdoor 125th Anniversary year, the Outdoor members became a fully unified, mixed club, with of course, the men and ladies maintaining their own matches but coming together for mixed matches and mixed leagues, so a very happy club continued. Within a few months, Kettering and District Indoor Bowling Club decided it was a good idea and did the same. In 2006, with everything going so well, talks between the Indoor and Outdoor resulted with us joining together and the new Kettering Lodge Bowling Club was born. We decided to adopt a coloured club shirt, incorporating the traditional colours from Outdoor and Indoor. The ladies opted for Royal Blue cadigans and waistcoats. New Blazer Badges and Lapel Badges were struck, so now we were ready to take on anyone. 2005, saw a change in the organisation of the Clubs as they have now come together to form a J Management Committee to run all the financial affairs of the Clubs. The bowling activities are, however, still controlled by separate committees. The Clubs are very fortunate in having many members who give freely of their time to help keep everything in good order. To commemorating the 25th year of the Indoor bowls in 2008/2009. Games have been played against E.I.B.A., E.W.I.B.A., N.B.A. and N.C.W.B.A. Most enjoyable occasions. |