In 1907 Harland and Wolff opened a ship repair yard in the eastern docks and subsequently developed, for its staff, a sports and social club located at Wilton Road, Shirley. The Harland and Wolff bowling club was formed in 1922 and the bowling green opened in 1924. The bowling surface was laid on a deep bed of clinker supplied by the repair yard and over the years this has provided strong foundations with excellent drainage, ensuring that a century later the green playing surface remains of very high quality.
In 1937, plans to sell the Sports and Social Club, as two separate lots, for housing development, led to members of the bowling club seeking to purchase the lot that included the bowling green. This was successful and on the 16th April 1938, Pirrie Park Bowling Club, named after Lord Pirrie (Chairman of Harland and Wolff, 1895-1924), held an opening ceremony followed by a match between the President and Vice-President’s teams. During the Second World War, Southampton was heavily bombed with landmines and incendiary bombs falling in and around Shirley. Miraculously, only one incendiary bomb fell on the green. Seen by a member, it was rapidly extinguished and resulted in only minor damage.
Around this time, the club had two huts in its grounds each with a separate changing room known as the ‘chalet’ and the ‘hutch’. New members were assigned to one of the changing rooms and on the closing day of the outdoor season there was a competition between the dressing rooms for the Boilermaker’s Cup which had been renamed as the Challenge Cup. The cup though was not the real prize, as the winning changing room took possession of a carpet for the next season. Chalet v Hutch end of season matches continued until 1976 when the ground was cleared to build the extension to the current clubhouse.
In 2000, the Ladies and Mens Clubs merged, and we became a mixed club run by a single committee. Today, our fours and triples teams play in the Southampton and District League, we have a programme of friendly matches with other clubs as well as our own in-club annual competitions. During the winter months, there is a programme of indoor short-mat bowls and we hold roll-ups twice a week throughout the year.
The club has an active social programme including regular Friday night social evenings, the club awards dinner and Christmas lunch/draw as well as events such as skittles night and quiz night.
The picture above shows the original Harland and Wolff’s Sports and Social Club overlaid with the redeveloped sports ground today. Originally a part of a hub for shipyard workers to relax and compete in various sports, Pirrie Park Bowling Club has evolved into a modern facility serving the wider community. While the original clubhouse and pitches have changed over time, the spirit of camaraderie and sporting excellence remains at the heart of this historic ground.
We are now a welcoming club with over 70 bowlers and around 50 social members. Our facilities include short mats, a well-stocked bar, and dedicated social spaces, providing a vibrant and enjoyable environment for all members.
