The Southampton Old Bowling Green, situated on the corner of Lower Canal Walk and Platform Road, has welcomed players since 1299, making it the oldest surviving bowling green in the world. Its unique "Knighthood" competition has created a singular tradition: those who prevail are honoured with the title "sir" (in lower case) and the designation "Knight-of-the-green."
Medieval Origins
The green was established during the reign of Richard I, the Lionheart, for the recreational use of the Warden of God's House Hospital, founded in 1185 by Gervase le Riche as a refuge for pilgrims. Richard I granted lands to the hospital and took it under royal protection, creating a close where the warden could enjoy the still-new sport of bowls.
Records indicate that bowls was being played regularly on the site by 1299. The club that occupies the green today traces its origins to the 17th century, maintaining an unbroken link to these medieval beginnings. The green also retains another ancient title: the club is led by a "Master," a designation carried forward from the earliest days of the institution.
The Knighthood Competition
The Knighthood competition represents perhaps the most distinctive tradition in British bowls. Each year, members who have not previously won the title compete to be the first to accumulate seven points under "Roving Jack" rules. The jack is placed on a penny anywhere on the green; each player bowls two bowls, and the closest bowl to the jack scores one point. If a player also holds the second-nearest bowl, they score two points.
The competition is adjudicated by previous winners, who preside in formal attire: top hats and frock-coat tails. Should a bowl partially cover the penny, it is declared a "toucher"; if it covers the penny entirely, it becomes a "lodger."
Victory is elusive. It is rare for the knight to be declared on the first day; the competition has been known to stretch across ten days of play. The 245th staging took place in 2019, demonstrating remarkable continuity. Those who win are excluded from all future Knighthood competitions, making each title unique and unrepeatable for the holder.
Notable Champions
Among the past winners was Tom Nicol, the former Burnley and Southampton footballer, who claimed the 133rd championship in 1907. The British PathΓ© archive contains footage from 1927 showing Sir John Russell installing "Sir" W. Day as that year's winner.
Present-Day Southampton
The green occupies a site of layered history. The Bowling Green House, a mid-19th century building that stands nearby, is Grade II listed and currently houses Wainwright Bros. shipping agency and the Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany.
For Southampton residents, the Old Bowling Green offers a tangible connection to the city's medieval past. While the French raids, the plague, and the Blitz have reshaped much of the city's fabric, the green has endured as a space for recreation and tradition. It remains in active use, preserving not only the physical ground but also the distinctive customs that have characterised play there for more than seven centuries.