Esclusham Bowling Club

Esclusham Bowling Green Opened May 1st 1933

The cherished hope of the men-folk of Esclusham Below was realised on a Monday evening May 1st 1933 when a bowling green was opened alongside the recreation ground, at the back of the Parish Hall.

Some years before, the people in Rhostyllen approached the Parish Council and appealed for recreational facilities. They had provided swings and other amusements for the children, tennis for the youth of the parish, but nothing for the middle-aged man!

Therefore in 1921 an attempt was made by local enthusiasts to make a bowling green, but this failed. There were no prospects of having one until two or three members of the Parish Council got in touch with the Miner’s Welfare Fund, and a grant of £600 was received from them. Soon afterwards the arrangements were completed and the making of the green commenced.

The opening function was an interesting one. Refreshments were served in the Parish Hall, and a statement of the scheme followed the tea which was presided over by Councillor W.Monslow.

In a short introductory address the chairman said that on behalf of the Bowling Green Committee, he would like to extend his cordial thanks to all those that were present for their support. That day there had been realised what had once been only a dream, and that there was a bowling green. He felt that he was expressing the sentiments of all, when he said; he hoped that they would continue to develop recreative features of this character. They were invaluable; they enriched life and developed the body as well as the mind.

Mr J.Miller (vice-chairman) then presented a report of the scheme. He said that they received £600 from the Miners’ Welfare Fund. A tender was received for doing the work for £640 from Messrs Baker, Codsall, near Wolverhampton (which included the provision of a fence) but they had only had £600. However, Messrs Bakers came to the rescue and offered to do it for that sum by leaving out one or two unnecessary items. The result was that they had a beautiful green on one of the finest sites in Denbighshire. They had their green, but no bowls, shoes or seating accommodation.

The over-shoes and twelve seats were made by Messrs A Cudworth and Sons. These were all acquired and paid for by voluntary efforts. A social event (a whist drive and dance) was held which raised £20; a football match between the Transport Reds and the Wrexham Barracks (RWF) raised £7 and finally a concert, organised by Mr. Walter Roberts, raised £10. With this money the necessary requirements were purchased and paid for with the exception of a debt of £15, which the committee soon hoped to wipe off. Several subscriptions had been received towards the amount. He thanked those benefactors for their help and also paid tribute to the splendid work of the ladies and other functions.

Mr. J.R. Williams the energetic secretary spoke of the necessity of maintaining and interest in the club.

Among the hundreds of people present at the ceremony were Mrs F.W. Morris, Abraham Pennington, Hy. Jones, Edwin Jones, E.T. Wynne, Rev W. Eaton Lloyd, Mr Simon Yorke, Messrs L. Weaver, Thomas Hughes and Mrs Povah (members of the Esclusham Parish Council), Mr W. Monslow (District Councillor), Mr E Povah (County Councillor), Messrs Ed Williams (CC), E.J. Williams JP, I.W. Williams JP, Walter Roberts JP, A Cudworth, H Cudworth, JDP Lumsden, A.W. Evans, A. Price, D.Davies, J. Howells, B.Lloyd, R.Pritchard, J.Taylor, E.Griffiths; Messrs T.Luke, F. Thompson, R. Morris (miners representatives on the Bowling Green Committee), J.R.Williams (Secretary), William Price, Maurice Kyffin, Mrs. R.Littlehales, J.M.Jones, Joseph Salisbury, Thomas Kennedy and Charles Edwards.

Above: Players and local dignitaries present at the opening ceremony.

Front row: Esclusham Parish Council members; Harry Jones, Thomas Hughes, ?, ?, Ben Lloyd, J.R.Williams (Secretary of Esclusham Below Bowling Club), Walter Monslow (District Councillor and later Lord Monslow), ?. In the centre of the second row, Mrs E Povah, Mrs W Monslow, Mrs J.R.Williams and Mrs F.W.Morris. Squire Simon Yorke, of Erddig, is pictured in the third row standing between Mrs Povah and Mrs Monslow.

 Note the Stables (background, centre), The Old Vicarage (background, just right of centre) and the Old Pavilion (background, right), all long since demolished.

The secretary, Mr J.R.Williams, then dealt with the correspondence. Apologies for absence were received from Alderman Thomas Jones, JP., Mr Alfred Shaw, Mr George Lerry, Captain J.B. O’Kelly, Mr Aled O. Roberts, (M.P. for the Division), Sir Edmund Bushby. Sir Leonard Rowland, Captain Freeman, Dr Richard Williams (Bersham Lodge).

The chairman said he felt that everyone owed a deep debt of gratitude to the secretary. He had rendered invaluable service and everything he had done was voluntarily.

He was pleased to welcome Mr. Duncan Robertson. Pendine, Wrexham, (Managing Director of Bersham Colliery), who he said, was a distinguished son of a distinguished father.

Mr Duncan Robertson said his first duty was to thank the committee for inviting him to such a pleasant function. He did not know if they were aware of the fact, but the Miners’ Welfare Fund started in 1920, and they received a penny off every ton of coal mined at every colliery. A certain amount of this money was sent to headquarters and the remainder could be spent on any local cause. It seemed as if the district had not been having its share. Since 1920, £31,000 had been raised for the fund out of the company in which he was interested. This amount had been given and one expected something in return. When they saw something for their sacrifice, it was more satisfying.

The party then adjourned to the green where Mr Duncan Robertson bowled the first wood, and said it gave him great pleasure to declare the green open.

Above: Mr Duncan Robertson (Managing Director of Bersham Colliery) bowling the first wood. Note Chapel Street (background, left), now demolished.

He hoped that it would remain as a source of recreation and enjoyment in the district for many years and that the public would make the best possible use of the green, take care of it and obtain as much amusement as possible from it.

An exhibition match followed between Mr. George Miller. Garswood. North Ashton, near Wigan (champion of Lancashire County) and Mr. Harry Shaw, Miners Institute, Wrexham (ex-champion of Wrexham District). The game was a very close one, Mr Miller winning 21 to 17.

Rhos Silver Band was in attendance and played selections during the evening.

Mr A.W. Evans one of the experts who laid the green persuaded the committee to close the green for at least a fortnight in order to allow the turf to get into good heart and condition.

Mrs F.W. Morris, Wrexham (pictured above) presented a valuable cup for competition among the members of the newly formed bowling club.

Source: Wrexham Leader & Advertiser 1933