Gargrave Bowling Club was established in 1899 but the modern game of Crown Green Bowls reached County status in 1893 when a series of friendly matches began between Yorkshire and the then combined counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. The last match was played in 1896 The BCGBA was formed in 1907, when it was decided that an Inter-County Championship would start in 1908, playing for a cup donated by Crossfields of Warrington. The three counties taking part were Lancashire & Cheshire, Staffordshire and Yorkshire, with promises from Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Derbyshire.

Today, Crown Green Bowls has in excess of 200,000 individual members and over 3,000 registered clubs. It is played extensively in an area stretching from Cumbria to the Midlands, as well as North Wales and the Isle of Man. For more information about other clubs see www.bowls.org