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History of Priory BC

In 1926 the East Anglian Whist Club decided that an outdoor pursuit was healthier and formed a bowls club, playing originally on the Southsea Castle Greens, and called themselves the East Anglian Bowling Club. The members at that time were mainly from east Anglia.

The first President was Mr Sax Friston, and the Secretary was Mr A. Carter. Another notable long serving officer of the club was Dr Montague Way, who had the honour of serving as President of the club from 1935 to 1947.

In 1929 the club decided to move to the green vacated by Milton Park BC when they moved to a new green which had been laid alongside.

By 1934 most of the members were not East Anglian and in September 1934 changed the name to Priory Bowling Club adopted from the adjacent Priory Crescent.

The club has had its share of County & District honours winning the County Cup in 1948, and also the Rowland Cup in 1938, 1950 and 2024. League records show that the club won Division 1 in 1951, Division 2 in 1947, 1957, 1962, 1966, 1971, 2012, and in 1954, 2003, 2009 won Division 3. Combination 1 winners in 2017, 2019, Combination 2 winners in 2011, 2017 2022, Combination 3 winners 2022 and Combination 4 winners 1989, 1998, and 2010.

Several members have won P&D finals over the years. Singles Champion: D. Biggs, 1987 and S. Smith 2024. Pairs Champions: S. Baker & L. Ackland 1981, D. Biggs & M. Woolvin 1992 and M. Eggleton, R. Smalley substitue C. Carter 2021. Triples Champions: A. Snook, R. Bloy and A. Hibberd 2019 and A. Snook, R. Bloy and S. Smith 2024. Fours Champions: D. O'Dell, J. Greenwood, D. Cousins and M. Woolvin 1979, A. Snook, A. Hibberd, M. Elliott and C. Carter 2019. Champion of Champions: S. Smith 2023. Ivan Robb Memorial Trophy: M. Eggleton 2023.

Two of the most successful Priory bowlers were Mr C. Large Mr J. Stokes, who won the Hampshire County Bowling Association pairs competition in 1951 and went on to represent the county in the Middleton Cup.

Mention at this point must be made concerning Mr Ted Bulbeck who joined the club in 1958, was a past President of the club and on 17th March 1999 celebrated his 102nd birthday. Three members have served as President of Portsmouth & District Bowling Association, namely R.W. Balmer in 1974, E. Facey in 1978 and M. Eggleton in 2025.

The club badge was originally the coat of arms for the Fitzherbert family, who in the middle ages owned most of the land around the area. The club badge is registered as "Three falcons argent with their bells and jesses ore on a sable background, a shield with argent border, scroll with the word Priory".