About
Visit Wakefield Thornes Bowls Club’s beautiful 1930s bowling pavilion as part of this year’s Heritage Open Days!
Thought to be the last of its kind in the city, the pavilion was built by Paton and Baldwin’s yarn-spinning company who owned the nearby Thornes mill on Denby Dale Road. Like other large employers in the 1920s and 1930s, Paton and Baldwin built sports facilities to help support the health and wellbeing of their employees. They built a bowling green, tennis court and cricket ground at Green Lane End. The pavilion was built in 1937, on the eve of the Second World War. It was restored in 2025-2026, and new facilities created, with support from Wakefield Council. The club is still active today, although it is now completely run by volunteers. They still play in the Wakefield workshops league, which was a league of clubs connected to local employers.
Come along during Heritage Open Days to have a go at bowling, chat to the volunteers and visit the newly restored pavilion. The volunteers will also be collecting memories of bowls in Wakefield during the day, so do call in if you have a story to share.
Wakefield Thornes Bowls Club is located only a short walk from Holmfield Park Bowling club, who will also be open to visitors on the same day, so why not visit both?
10:00 - 16:00 