The first ever documented evidence of a game that resembled bowls can date back to 7000 BC. An excavation of an Egyptian child's grave found a set of skittles buried aside the remains.

Further excavations in Thebes (the ancient capital of Egypt) uncovered wall cloths and dishes upon which was painted the people of that period (3000BC) playing a game, which more closely resembled bowls as it is today.

Early Chinese civilisations bowled stones at a hole in the ground. Aha - more like early golfing origins I hear you say - but infact the aim of the game was to bowl the stone as close to the hole without it dropping in.

Polynesians developed a game where 4 inch pieces of oval stone were rolled at skittles set 60 feet away. Strangely enough, this is the same length of a 10 pin-bowling lane.

Hybrid versions of this game sifted down through descendant groups of the Polynesians such as those in New Zealand, Fiji, and Samoa.

In the 3rd and 4th century AD, Germans carried out a religious ceremony combining something akin to bowling in the service. Stones were bowled at clubs set within church archways. Knocking over the clubs apparently purged the bowler of sin. (Maybe that's we feel good about ourselves when we get a toucher). Of course missing the target meant that the bowler wasn't leading a good enough life.

Bowling games became popular in both ancient Greece and Rome and it has been said that the Romans refined a game played by inhabitants of the Italian Alps Region some 2000 years ago into the game of boccie. Boccie is still played in Italy today. In the game of boccie, stones were tossed underhand at a target. However, stones slowly gave way to the introduction of wooden balls, which in turn gave way to the metal ball used today.

France quickly picked up on the game of boccie known now in France as boules. Evidence would strongly suggest that the game made its way from Italy to France through the Romans. In fact the the spread of bowling games through much of Europe can be attributed to the Roman Empire and it's constant desire to acquire new land.

The first signs of the game within England are believed to date roughly around the time of the Norman Conquest ( 11th Century). By the 13th Century, the game was more closely ressembling the game of bowls today :- Bowls were delivered towards a cone shaped object. By the 14th Century, the cone target was replaced by a small spherical object.

The Old Green in Southampton (regarded as the oldest bowling green in existence) was laid during Edward I reign (1272-1307). However, the game of bowls was becoming so popular among the common ranks that they were spending less and less time practising archery techniques, much to the disapproval of the monarchy.

In 1350, Edward III bans all games within London town where the "throwing of stones" bowling is practised, in order to keep the common man's attention on their archery practise.

In 1409, Henry IV not only keeps up past monarchs anti - bowling legislations but enforces a jail term to be served by anyone caught bowling.

In 1455, Henry VI lifts the ban on bowling. Sadly, alongside the game of bowling came the wagers. Gambling became such a major attraction within the game that the ban was soon to come around yet again.

And in 1477, Edward IV reinstates the ban with heavier punishments for the law breakers. Now, anyone caught bowling might have found themselves serving a term in jail - anywhere from 6 months to 2 years!

In 1511, Henry VIII did nothing to win favour from the common man by only allowing noblemen to play the game of bowls. This statute actually stayed intact unitl 1845 when it was finally repealed.

However, during all that time, the English commoner carried on bowling in the face of heavy fines and imprisonment. Bowling alleys and greens popped up everywhere and the gambling stayed alongside every step of the way. The sullied reputation of the game carried on in England yet in Scotland the game had never fallen into disrepute.

The game had never been banned in Scotland and the gambling that was so apparent south of the border never got a hold on the game. The Scots led the way as to how the game is played today - maintaining discipline on the greens and alleys.

from www.portrush.co.uk edited by Sykic