Yoxford Bowls Club has been in existence for at least 200 years. Early records show that it was in the garden of the Three Tuns Coaching Inn on Yoxford’s High Street. The hotel was destroyed by fire in 1926. Over the next 70 years it was run by the Griffin public house, and housed pigs during the 2nd World War!

Around 1950 a group (including the parents of existing members) got together to reform the bowling club. The club thrived in the mid 60’s as did Suffolk bowling, with new clubs being formed in Badingham, Sweffling and Friston, to name but three. In 1996 the plot was sold by the brewery with planning permission for a house. The bowling club managed to rent a property from Stephen St. Ledger Moore alongside the cricket club in the village.

After a lot of fund raising (including from the ‘Foundation for Sport and the Arts’, Suffolk Coastal Council and local organisations and individuals) and hard work, the bowls green, at its present site, was opened in 1999. The club wrestled with a difficult planning process and having to move the green because of the discovery of a 10 inch water main! In the three years it took to build the new green the club managed to carry on, playing its ‘home’ games at neighbouring clubs in Peasanhall and Thorpeness.

Over the years the club has been an important part of Suffolk County bowling. Many young players have emerged and gone on to represent the County. During the season the club holds a popular annual tournament with entries from across Suffolk, and is often the chosen venue for the mens and women’s County Championships.

We suffered damage from Storm Eunice on 18th February 2022. Our changing room was blown over the fence! Fortunately nobody was hurt. The gallery has pictures of the damage. We are grateful to all our members who turned out the next morning and tidied up.

At our AGM on 16th October 2022, Barrie Davis retired as Chairman. He has been a member of the club for over 50 years and was a prime mover in securing our current green after the Club moved from its Griffin pub site in the village. Barrie held numerous positions during his membership both at Club and County level (as has Mary his wife), culminating in being Mens County President in 2019. Both very impressive bowling careers for which we are all very grateful.