Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Historic cartographic sources note the presence of a bowling green at the north eastern end of North Military Road, Dover. The area encompassed by the bowling green has since been developed but a row of terrace houses at the north western end of Durham Hill bears the name 'Bowling Green Terrace' suggesting that the green was nearby. (location accurate to the nearest 10m based on available information)

Monument Types

• BOWLING GREEN (Post Medieval - 1840 AD? to 1900 AD?)

Full description

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Historic cartographic sources note the presence of a bowling green at the north eastern end of North Military Road, Dover. The area encompassed by the bowling green has since been developed but a row of terrace houses at the north western end of Durham Hill bears the name 'Bowling Green Terrace' suggesting that the green was nearby. (1-4)

The game of bowls has been around since at least the 13th century, by 1541 the game was banned as it was feared that it would jeopardise the practice of archery - then important for defence. The Act was not repealed until 1845 but even then, artificers, labourers, apprentices and servants were only allowed to play at Christmas time. Further, the game could only be played on licensed greens, which led to one being excavated near the lower part of Military Road – Bowling Green Lane was so named because of its proximity. Enclosed and strictly private the green was laid for military officers and gentlemen of Dover. (5)

This Bowling Green is clearly depicted on Foquets map dating to 1737 (6)

<1> Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 1st edition 1862-1875): Landmark Epoch 1 (Map). SKE30964.

<2> Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 2nd Edition, 1897-1900): Landmark Epoch 2 (Map). SKE30965.

<3> Landmark, 1907-1923, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 3rd Edition, 1907-1923): Landmark Epoch 3 (Map). SKE30966.

<4> Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 4th Edition, 1929-1952): Landmark Epoch 4 (Map). SKE30967.

<5> Lorraine Sencicle, 2014, The Dover Historian - Bowling in Dover (Website). SKE32355.

<6> J. Foquet, 1737, Plan of the town, harbour and fortifications of Dover (Map). SKE31991.

Sources and further reading