The Ashcroft Bowling Club was registered with the English Bowling Association (now Bowls England) in 1988 although the history can be traced back to 1931.
The Ashcroft archives contain the minutes of a meeting held in 1931 when a bowling club was formed by the employees of the Luton Co-operative Society Cocoa and Chocolate Works. A green was laid at the company sports ground in Dallow Road, Luton with an annual subscription of 2/6d. However, the sports ground was sold for development in 1937 and the Club moved its matches to one of the greens in Wardown Park. In 1938 it was proposed that the Club be called the Luton Cocoa Works Bowling Club but this was defeated and the Club continued as Wardown Bowling Club until it was dissolved and a new Club named Wardown Park Bowling Club was registered with the EBA in 1966.
Meanwhile… in the late 1940’s a bowling green was laid by the Stopsley Working Men’s Club in the Ashcroft Road Recreation Ground. Later it was taken over by Luton Borough Council and became the home of Stopsley Working Men’s Club Bowling Club. The changing room was a brick built shelter with a tiled roof and wooden seating.
In 1973 the Council built a new pavilion with changing rooms, toilets and kitchen. In 1976 the green keeper treated the green with the wrong fertiliser which completely ruined the grass. This meant that play was not possible and so the Working Men’s Club bowlers were forced to go and play for other local Clubs. The Council decided that the green would be closed, but after press coverage in both the local and Sunday national papers the Council changed their mind and a new green was laid.
When the green was ready to play on many of the Working Men’s Club bowlers decided to stay with their new clubs. It was at this point, in 1979, that the men of Wardown Park Bowling Club decided to play their games on the newly laid green at Ashcroft Recreation Ground as it was in better condition than the one in Wardown Park. In 1985 the Luton Airport Bowling Club also shared the facilities.
In 1988 Wardown Park Bowling Club decided to move back to Wardown. At this point some bowlers decided to stay in Stopsley and a new Club under the name Ashcroft Bowling Club was registered with the EBA.
A bar licence was taken out and the kitchen in the pavilion modified. The pavilion was extended in 1994 enlarging the seating area for meals. A Ladies Changing Room funded by the members was built in 2006.
In 2017 Luton Borough Council reviewed the number of greens it was maintaining in Luton and recommended that the Ashcroft green be closed. The case for remaining open was voiced at a Council meeting at which a 6 month review period was agreed. The review agreed that the Club should continue and a 5 year lease was signed.
In April 2021 the Luton Town Bowling Club moved to Stopsley to play their fixtures on the Ashcroft green. Ashcroft and Luton Town will continue as independent Clubs. In October 2021 the maintenance of the green was taken over from Luton Borough Council.
The Ashcroft archives contain the minutes of a meeting held in 1931 when a bowling club was formed by the employees of the Luton Co-operative Society Cocoa and Chocolate Works. A green was laid at the company sports ground in Dallow Road, Luton with an annual subscription of 2/6d. However, the sports ground was sold for development in 1937 and the Club moved its matches to one of the greens in Wardown Park. In 1938 it was proposed that the Club be called the Luton Cocoa Works Bowling Club but this was defeated and the Club continued as Wardown Bowling Club until it was dissolved and a new Club named Wardown Park Bowling Club was registered with the EBA in 1966.
Meanwhile… in the late 1940’s a bowling green was laid by the Stopsley Working Men’s Club in the Ashcroft Road Recreation Ground. Later it was taken over by Luton Borough Council and became the home of Stopsley Working Men’s Club Bowling Club. The changing room was a brick built shelter with a tiled roof and wooden seating.
In 1973 the Council built a new pavilion with changing rooms, toilets and kitchen. In 1976 the green keeper treated the green with the wrong fertiliser which completely ruined the grass. This meant that play was not possible and so the Working Men’s Club bowlers were forced to go and play for other local Clubs. The Council decided that the green would be closed, but after press coverage in both the local and Sunday national papers the Council changed their mind and a new green was laid.
When the green was ready to play on many of the Working Men’s Club bowlers decided to stay with their new clubs. It was at this point, in 1979, that the men of Wardown Park Bowling Club decided to play their games on the newly laid green at Ashcroft Recreation Ground as it was in better condition than the one in Wardown Park. In 1985 the Luton Airport Bowling Club also shared the facilities.
In 1988 Wardown Park Bowling Club decided to move back to Wardown. At this point some bowlers decided to stay in Stopsley and a new Club under the name Ashcroft Bowling Club was registered with the EBA.
A bar licence was taken out and the kitchen in the pavilion modified. The pavilion was extended in 1994 enlarging the seating area for meals. A Ladies Changing Room funded by the members was built in 2006.
In 2017 Luton Borough Council reviewed the number of greens it was maintaining in Luton and recommended that the Ashcroft green be closed. The case for remaining open was voiced at a Council meeting at which a 6 month review period was agreed. The review agreed that the Club should continue and a 5 year lease was signed.
In April 2021 the Luton Town Bowling Club moved to Stopsley to play their fixtures on the Ashcroft green. Ashcroft and Luton Town will continue as independent Clubs. In October 2021 the maintenance of the green was taken over from Luton Borough Council.