5000 BC
Bowling artefacts found in tombs in Egypt

13th Century
King Henry III bans bowls because his archers are being distracted by the game

1511
Henry VIII discourages lawn bowls, associating the game with gambling

1588
Sir Francis Drake insists on finishing his game of bowls before defeating the Spanish Armada

1670
King Charles II, the Duke of York and the Duke of Buckingham draw up the earliest known laws

1840
A set of rules established in Scotland to standardise the game, these rules have changed very little since then

1848
Glasgow solicitor William Mitchell draws up standard bowls code

1871
Thomas Taylor of Glasgow constructs the first testing table

1893
Scottish Bowling Association formed

1903
England formed first association and with the help of WG Grace, the English cricket player who also became the English Bowling Association's (EBA) first president.

1905
International Bowling Board formed

1930
Lawn bowls introduced at Hamilton Commonwealth Games

1945
English Bowling Federation formed

1966
World Bowls Championship introduced

1972
Second World Bowls held in Worthing, United Kingdom

1982
Bias standards revised after new Thomas Taylor bowl introduced

1986
Women's lawn bowls makes debut at Brisbane Commonwealth Games