Woolston & District & SO19Bowling ClubOur history
From a green built by Harry Kneller to a thriving club shaped by generations of volunteers, this is the story of Woolston & District Bowling Club and its shared Temple Road home with SO19 Ladies.
Founder and benefactor
Founder and benefactor
Sholing-born Harry Kneller was a self-made entrepreneur. Starting with the renovation of two condemned cottages on Sholing Common in 1898, he went on to own more than 500 houses within 15 years.
On a disused sand pit at Temple Road, originally excavated to supply ballast to the Thornycroft shipyard, this keen sportsman funded four tennis courts, a bowling green and a clubhouse.
His legacy lives on through the club he founded, the trophy bearing his name and traditions that still mark the founding weekend each July.
The place we call home
The place we call home
Woolston is a Southampton community shaped by the river, skilled making and movement. The former Supermarine works on Hazel Road are remembered for Spitfire production, while the Thornycroft and Vosper Thornycroft yards made the Itchen frontage a major centre for shipbuilding and marine engineering.
That setting is part of this club’s story: the Temple Road site began as a disused sand pit excavated to provide ballast for ships built at Thornycroft, before Harry Kneller turned it into a green, clubhouse and tennis courts. Today, the Itchen Bridge continues to connect Woolston with the city.
Key moments
Woolston & District’s history, ending with the formation of SO19 Ladies at the shared Temple Road home.
On a disused sand pit at Temple Road, Sholing-born builder and entrepreneur Harry Kneller laid out a bowling green, clubhouse and four tennis courts at his own expense. The land had originally been excavated for ballast for ships built at the Thornycroft shipyard.
The club’s published history records the inaugural meeting on 2 July 1913 in the building that still forms the core of today’s clubhouse. Those present followed the meeting with a game of bowls, beginning a tradition that has lasted more than a century. The archive below includes a c.1913 photograph of the clubhouse and a newspaper cutting about Woolston’s new tennis court and bowling green.
Harry Kneller died in March 1932. Contemporary newspaper cuttings record the passing of a well-known Woolstonian and the tributes paid at his Sholing funeral. After his death, his family gave the clubhouse and green freehold to the members. Further extensions and alterations followed over the years, with much of the work carried out voluntarily by members.
The clubhouse was extended in 1968. One of its two snooker tables was removed to make room for the growing membership, with the second removed soon afterwards. Further improvements have continued through members’ voluntary work.
During this era, England international Jock Latto joined Woolston and, during his time at the club, achieved 105 Middleton Cup caps for Hampshire. The club describes that total as a record.
A Woolston Club Four won the Hampshire Fours Cup in 2001, then progressed to the national quarter-finals at Worthing.
Woolston celebrated its centenary with friendlies against representatives of Bowls England and the Chelsea Pensioners. The club’s history also records improved floodlighting and an enhanced CCTV system funded through a long-standing member’s generosity.
During repeated COVID-19 lockdowns, the club was forced to close. Its published history records cancelled matches, loss of income and further financial pressure into the 2020–21 winter.
SO19 Ladies Bowling Club is formed at the shared Temple Road home alongside Woolston & District. Its public profile describes a friendly, sociable club offering bowling and social membership.
The club currently fields teams in Southampton and District Leagues, with Championship, Combination and friendly fixtures. The Harry Kneller Trophy and annual Ladies’ Day keep links to its founding story visible.
From the club archive
These photographs and newspaper cuttings were supplied for Woolston & District’s history archive. The page edges, desk and hands have been removed from the images, while the captions retain the dates and descriptions shown in the original material. Where the supplied pages do not identify a date or person, the archive leaves that detail open.
A photograph by S. F. Kneller showing the clubhouse and people gathered outside, c.1913.
© The Kneller Collection
A 1913 newspaper cutting featuring Woolston’s new tennis court and bowling green.
A newspaper notice headed “Passing of Well-Known Woolstonian”.
A newspaper report headed “Many Tributes at Sholing Funeral”, following Harry Kneller’s death.
Mary Louise Kneller née Rogers (1867–1955), widow of Harry Kneller, c.1953.
© The Kneller Collection
A newspaper feature showing the clubhouse and a group of members, from the club’s Golden Jubilee coverage.
An historic match captured on the green, with spectators gathered around the rink.
Players and spectators pictured during an historic bowls gathering.
A historic motor car from the Kneller Collection; date and location are not recorded on the supplied page.
© The Kneller Collection
Three people pictured outside a historic building; identities and date are not recorded on the supplied page.
© The Kneller CollectionPlayers who made their mark
These achievements are listed below in chronological order. Initials and historical abbreviations are reproduced as written; full names can be added later if the archive confirms them. Paul Robson’s entry is a national leadership honour rather than a playing title. SO19 Ladies was formed in 2024, and no national or county title is yet publicly listed for the new club.
1987 · Jock Latto
Jock Latto earned 105 Middleton Cup caps for Hampshire while representing Woolston. He reached his 100th cap and served as Hampshire captain in 1987.
1992 · R. Akhurst
R. Akhurst won the Southampton Champion of Champions title in 1992.
1993 · R. Akhurst, F. Hinton and E. Rowe
R. Akhurst, F. Hinton and E. Rowe won the Hants County Two Wood Triples Cup in 1993.
1994 & 1998 · Colin Thresher
Colin Thresher was Southampton & District (S&D) Singles champion in both 1994 and 1998, winning the title twice.
1995 · J. Latto, P. Biddlecombe and D. Mandry
J. Latto, P. Biddlecombe and D. Mandry were County Two Wood Triples champions in 1995.
1998–2000 · E. Rowe and S. Batt
S. Batt and E. Rowe won S&D.B.A. Pairs in 1998 and the S&D.B.A. Pairs Cup in 1999. E. Rowe was also part of the S&D.B.A. Triples-winning team in 2000.
2001 · Woolston Club Four
A. Smith, G. Milne, D. Hughdie and M. Milne won the H.C.B.A. County Fours and reached the E.B.A. National Fours quarter-finals in 2001.
2002 · R. Akhurst and T. Turner
R. Akhurst and T. Turner were joint champions of the Southampton Open Pairs in 2002.
2020–21 · Paul Robson
Paul Robson of Woolston & District served as Bowls England President in 2020 and 2021. This was a national leadership honour rather than a playing title, and he represented Woolston in Bowls England’s 2021 Celebration Match.
2026 · Matthew McLoughlin
Matthew McLoughlin of Woolston reached the National Under-17 Singles semi-final at the 2026 Leamington national finals. He won his quarter-final 21–16 against Middlesex before losing 13–21 to Gloucestershire.
A landmark year
A landmark year
The 2013 celebrations marked a century of club life and coincided with continued improvements to the facilities. Floodlighting made late-season league matches easier and opened the green to more evening competitions during August and September.
An enhanced CCTV system, purchased through the generosity of a long-standing member, also improved security inside the clubhouse and around the grounds.
Leadership & club life
A message from our President
Although I have not been bowling as long as previous presidents, I am honoured to have been chosen for 2026.
As we are probably the best club in the district, with all the trophies we won last year, I do hope it continues this season.
We are well known and respected as a friendly club, with a great rapport with visiting teams and clubs.
My chosen charity is Young Lives vs Cancer. It is an extremely worthwhile charity, so I intend to raise as much as I can, on as many occasions as possible. Thank you in advance for your continued support.
We have a food collection box at Woolston & District Bowling Club for anyone who wishes to donate tins, snacks, toilet rolls and anything else the house needs for its day-to-day running.
Our local ‘Home from Home’ is Jean’s House in Shirley, where parents and young people can stay while going through the ordeal and treatment of cancer.
My tour this year is abroad on the Isle of Wight — and I am so pleased to be supported by so many members.
May I wish you the very best of luck with your bowling in competitions and matches. I hope we win all the trophies we can and make this great club a force to be reckoned with.
I look forward to seeing you all on the green.
Martin Rooney2026 President
President’s chosen charity
Martin will be raising funds throughout his year in office and supporting Jean’s House in Shirley through the club’s food collection box.
A memorable year in office
Woolston & District Bowling Club celebrated its 100-year-old President, Wally Kemish, with an Opening Day and birthday celebration to remember.
Wally welcomed members and guests to Woolston & District Bowling Club’s Opening Day during his remarkable year in office.
Members joined Wally for a very special birthday celebration and cake cutting at the clubhouse.
A memorable Opening Day brought the club together to mark Wally’s presidency and milestone birthday.
This account combines the club’s published history with records from Bowls England and Bowls Hampshire. We can add photographs, honours and further memories as the archive grows.
Sources consulted: Woolston & District’s published history; Southampton City Archives; Historic England’s Supermarine archive; The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust; BAE Systems Heritage: Vosper Thornycroft; Southampton City Council: Itchen Bridge; Bowls England; Bowls Hampshire.
