One of the few means of recreation facilities in West Bretton is the bowling green within the curtilege of Bretton Memorial Institute (better known as The Village Hall). Cricket and tennis facilities are the others and all three had their beginnings in the 1920s by courtesy of the Lords Allendale of Bretton Hall. First came tennis in 1921 in the Village Hall grounds, replaced five years later by a hard court, secondly a cricket club, in a field to the north of the village, before the cricket field in 1925 and lastly the bowling green adjacent to the above mentioned tennis court, largely as the result of a donation of £240 from the Miners Welfare organisation.
Little is known of how the bowling green was used until the 1970s, when a fund raising project was instituted. A waste paper collection round the village monthly when the waste paper was bought by a firm in Dewsbury raised money and village residents were asked to loan a sum of money for the relaying of the green and the tennis court.
At this time a committee called Bretton Tennis Club had the interests of bowls as well as tennis and the club were anxious to purchase a mower and a number of the committee visited other bowling clubs to compare ‘the effectiveness of various types of mower in use’. In 1974 agreement was reached that the Bowling Club should be amalgamated with the Tennis Club and additional members with an interest in bowling co-opted onto the committee. A public meeting was called to allow villagers to come along and air their views and if willing, to join the committee. Pensioners in the village would be allowed to play bowls free of charge.
Discussions were held about storage facilities, seating and the purchase of bowls. A turf nursery was proposed and one established.
In November 1974 contractors informed the committee that the bowling green had been laid and that it must not be walked upon until it had dried out, after which it could be lightly mowed. Thereafter it could be lightly treated for three years. When the first bowling matches were due to take place it was found that the turf had not ‘knitted’ together properly and at the first match the visiting team were going to refuse to play, until they realised that the Bretton team were only ‘novices’. The Parish Council agreed to offer £200 towards the purchase of a Ransome mower at a cost of £228.30.
It seems that the former Tennis Club had rules which stated that when the Methodist Church held a service then bowling and tennis members would maintain quiet. It was agreed that this would continue. On the green friendly matches were arranged on some Sunday afternoons, along with two knockout bowls competitions. A tennis and bowls tournament was instituted on the day of the Bretton Flower Show and this continued for many years.
In an effort to improve the social atmosphere and to help create a focal point for people to meet the Tennis & Bowls committee approached the Trustees and the Management Committee to apply for a club license, members only, for the sale of intoxicating liquors. The Licensing Authority were approached and a license proposal form was signed and sent to them and the Institute Trustees. Agreement was reached. The Institute Management Committee then discussed all the points raised by the Licensing Authority before an application was put to them. The license was for seven days and evenings 7.00pm to 11.00pm and Saturday lunch 11.00am to 3.00pm and Sunday 12.00pm to 2.00pm. Two alterations were proposed by the Authority and agreed. On approval the Tennis and Bowls Committee booked the Institute Committee Room for twelve months, with the aim of obtaining a completely separate club room and bar. In an effort to get the bar off the ground a loan scheme was suggested and members who could afford it would pay £5.00 into a fund. The bar was opened in August 1975 situate in the committee room to begin with but was later transferred to the kitchen but eventually it settled next to the committee room, where it has remained since. Owing to the popularity of the bar some club members requested winter opening. An agreement was reached with the Institute Trustees and the Management Committee and the Tennis & Bowls Committee applied for a winter license for Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday lunch and evenings. The price of draught bitter was then 18p!
It should be pointed out that some Institute Management Committee seemed to have little commitment to the bar and it was particularly bowls members who agreed to maintain the bar. By 1976 the Committee was informed that bowling green and bar work was being done by the same few committee members!
In November 1975 discussions were held with the Secretary of the Ossett & Horbury League with a view to Bretton joining the league for the 1976 season. Paths were laid around the green. It was agreed that the club subscribe to the Yorkshire and Wakefield Leagues so that Bretton would be eligible to play in their merit competitions. The Ossett & Horbury League were approached about the possibility of ladies being allowed to play in Bretton’s league team but there was no response..
The first season in the Ossett & Horbury League was fairly successful but there were not always enough players to make up a team of eight. They won one match but, of course, they improved in later years.
It wasn’t until the 1980’s that applications were made to join the Heavy Woollen Afternoon and Evening Leagues, three teams were in the Ossett and Horbury League and one in the Wakefield Saturday League. Women were not allowed in most of the leagues and it wasn’t until 1981 that Bretton had a team in the Dewsbury Ladies League. They did not always have enough players to make a team of eight. Friendlies were arranged with Horbury and College Grove Ladies’. In 1991 they were allowed to play in the Wakefield League with the men. Sometimes they were better players than the men, but not many men would agree!
West Bretton Bowling Club has never been a large club or one of the ‘pot hunting’ clubs but its teams have always been competitive. Over the years a number of clubs have said that it was one of the best clubs they played at, with a lovely green.. Visiting teams have always felt welcome and they were pleased to have a bar to have a drink in convivial surroundings.
The bar had been such a useful addition to the club but in 1994 the Institute Management Committee took over the responsibilities of the bar from the Tennis & Bowls Committee.
Not being a large club it has been a struggle to get enough members each year and to get willing workers to help the greenkeeper through the season. It has been fortunate that there have been willing volunteers, club officials and greenkeepers, who have saved the club paying out huge sums of money.
Currently with around 40 members the club carries on each year, hoping that there is some success around the corner. New members are always welcome and they will find a friendly bunch of bowlers who love the sport they chose.
Current membership is £30 per season.