The world's oldest preserved bowling green is that in Southampton, England, which records prove to have been in use since 1299. But the origins date back to more than a millennia prior to that, when the Romans introduced
bocce to much of Europe.
Modern bowling greens, measuring 19 by 120 feet, are of finely-laid, carefully cultivated chewings fescue,
Fistula rubra commutate, that forms a dense mat requiring some rolling plus mowing three times a week. Like golf greens, these are frequently admired by passersby, who wonder if they could have a lawn "just like that." It is possible but check out the facts. California-based enthusiast Edward R. Haley's two manuals on the subject are regarded as a standard reference two decades after his death in 1998. Amongst other pointers, he built is greens on a bed of sand, not soil. As for nutrients, inorganic fertilizer, "Never organic. Never."
What care and grasses went into greens in earlier times is uncertain. There must have been more than cursory attention, however. For example, Samuel Pepys mentions in his famous diary when he met Hugh May, a greens designer.
Until the first lawnmower was patented in 1830 surfaces could have been somewhat rough. Prior to that it was often shorn by sheep grazing on the turf. As for the balls, from 15
th century they were crafted from hardwoods such as ash, oak, holly, boxwood, and later the tropical lignum vitae, so dense that it sinks in water.
As for Drake's Plymouth Hoe, today features bowling green with three-metre bronze statue of the great seaman and lawn bowls enthusiast. "Hoe," incidentally has nothing to do with the garden implement but is Old English for 'high ground.' "Time enough to play the game and thrash to Spaniards afterwards," Sir Francis Drake predicted, although the anecdote was first recorded 40 years later. And while he beat the Spanish, he is said to have lost the game.
