The Scottish Bowling Association
1892 - 2001

Although the Scottish Bowling Association came into being in 1892, an earlier attempt had been made to form a national body in 1848, when, representatives of about 200 clubs met in Glasgow.

At that time in the history of bowls, clubs, more or less, played to their own rules and as a result there was a great deal of conflict. Unfortunately, at the 1848 meeting, the move to form a national body fell through, but the meeting did realise that there was a need for the adoption of laws for the game which might be common to all.

A small committee was formed, which met in 1849 with William W. Mitchell as Secretary. Mr. Mitchell, a Glasgow lawyer, a member and twice President of The Willow Bank Bowling Club, Glasgow, agreed to draw up a complete code of laws, which were adopted by clubs in the West of Scotland and were adhered to for many years. This Manual of Laws was published in 1864.

Mr. Mitchell (1803-1884) as a lad of eleven started to play bowls on Tom Bicket's green in Kilmarnock. On the 25th December 1879, he played for four hours on the Willow Bank green before going home for his Christmas dinner.

The following verse is from 'A Bowler's Song by W.W. Mitchell:

Mr. Mitchell tells us that in the early days of 'touchers' the bowls were not marked by chalk but a more primitive method and it was a proud player who heard his skip declare 'That deserves a spittle'.

In 1889 a second attempt made form National was to a Association when James Brown of Sanquhar wrote to the Scotsman newspaper suggesting the formation of such an Association to control the game throughout Scotland.