Armadale Bowling Club was established in 1867. By this time the town was a busy and industry dominated area. It was decided , in the main by the shopkeepers of Armadale, who were obviously not short of a bob or two, that a bowling green would be a fine addition to the town. And so permission was granted by the Laird of Barbauchlaw, the foremost landowner in the area, and who’s estate Armadale grew up on, for the laying of a green behind Monkland Cottage on South Street.
There then followed many concerts and subscription seeking to fund the laying of the green. So successful was this that the opening took place that same year. The music played by Bathgate Band. A small club house was added at a later date, it is unknown exactly when this happened, but it was certainly there by 1870.
The earliest picture we have shows some careful measuring taking place of what must have been a decisive end!
Quite what the green keepers today would say about the shoes being worn, I couldn’t possibly put in print here! We believe this picture was taken in 1870 and shows the first clubhouse built on the site.
The Goth Public House Society funded the building of the next clubhouse in 1923. The story goes that at the annual presentation of prizes in 1922, the president , Mr McLeod, apologised for the cramped conditions in the clubhouse. There upon Mr Malcolm Mallace, the Goth representative suggested that perhaps the Goth members would be willing to help out in someway. And as such the club was enlarged thanks to the members of the Goth. The ‘Goth’ or Armadale Public House Society has a long history within the town of philanthropic gestures, and a long standing connection with club.
At first it was also a strictly tee total club. Alcohol was much maligned and frowned upon then. It being seen as a cause for all manner of ills within the family home and the workplace. Indeed the first constitution of the club stated that,
“...no intoxicating drink be sold or partaken of within club premises.”
1870 picture of earliest clubhouse
Early hand tinted picture showing the later larger clubhouse. Date unknown but likely to be mid twenties.
And so it wasn’t until 1955 that a license was obtained for selling alcohol, there being strong and vocal opposition to a bar on the premise. It was realised however that the club could not survive on membership fees alone, and that another source of income had to be found.
Given the increased income from the bar and social functions this now allowed, the club expanded and provided better facilities for the members. This included a new locker room, toilets, lounge area and function room. The present layout has been in place since 1982.
The club in it’s present configuration.
The old clubhouse can just be seen poking up in the middle!
Further expansion is now difficult given the physical lack of space on the site, however there is scope for alterations and improvements inside the building.
The Ladies section of the club has been in existence since 1962. Previously there had been several attempts to start and maintain a section but all failed. However come 1962 there was sufficient interest and enthusiasm to make it a success.
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Armadale Bowling Club
Est. 1867