Southampton Old Bowling Green

A little history about our neighbours 🏘

Bowling Green House was built in the 1840s with windows overlooking the Old Bowling Green, where the game of bowls has been played since at least 1299.

It was the residence of auctioneer and property developer Walter Perkins in the 1860s and 1870s. Perkins’ brother, Frederick, would be Mayor of Southampton five times between 1859 and 1870, and also represent Southampton in parliament. In 1864, the famous Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi visited the town and struck up a friendship with the then mayor, George Brinton.

By 1901, Bowling Green House had been taken over by members of Southampton’s Italian community, becoming a haven for Italian sailors needing somewhere to stay between voyages. It was known as the Italian Club or the International Club and as well as providing beds they also sold a lot of alcohol at the bar. This wasn’t always legal, for the club was raided in both 1903 and 1914. Loads of booze was confiscated on both occasions.

By 1906, the club was being run by Enrico Operti, who had been born in Italy in 1859. His mother, Celestina Operti, lived at Bowling Green House for many years before her death at the age of ninety-five in 1925. She had helped nurse Italian soldiers three times during her life. The first time was during the revolutions of 1848, the second was during the Crimean War in 1855 and 1856, and the third was during the Second Italian War of Independence in 1859. In 1870, Guiseppe Garibaldi himself personally presented Celestina Operti with a commemorative flag in recognition of her efforts. During the First World War she knitted clothes for Italian soldiers.

In 1911, Enrico lived in Bowling Green House with his mother and his wife, Caroline, plus three of their children: Oresti, Ferrucio, and Maria. Sadly, one of their children, Celestina, took her own life at Bowling Green House in 1908. Also present in 1911 was Enrico’s uncle, as well as an Italian servant, five Italian boarders, and one Spanish boarder.

In 1912, two Italians were lodging here when they signed on to join Titanic’s crew for her maiden voyage. Emilio Poggi, a waiter, and Switzerland-born Alessandro Pedrini, an assistant waiter in Luigi Gatti’s Restaurant on board the ship, both perished in the sinking. Their bodies were recovered; Poggi was buried in Nova Scotia and Pedrini was buried at sea. The news of the sinking had a devastating impact on Southampton, with over a third of those lost being crew members with a Southampton address. The loss of Poggi and Pedrini would have been mourned in Bowling Green House.

Enrico Operti died in 1929 and the management of the establishment passed to his son, Ferrucio. Despite being born in Italy, Ferrucio served Britain during the First World War with the Merchant Navy.

Feruccio was still running Bowling Green House in 1939. At the beginning of the Second World War he volunteered to serve with Air Raid Precautions. However, after Mussolini declared war on Britain in June 1940, Feruccio was detained as an ‘enemy alien’ along with his son, Enrico, and around 4,000 other Italian men over the age of sixteen. It did not matter that Feruccio had lived in Southampton since at least 1906 (when he was sixteen), or that he had served Britain during the First World War. Politics did not seem to matter either, since a number of Italian anti-fascists were also detained.

Enrico was sent to a detainment camp on the Isle of Man. Feruccio was to be deported to a camp in Canada. He was put on board SS Arandora Star with over 700 fellow Italians, over 400 Germans (including a number of Jewish refugees), a number of German prisoners of war, and at least 200 military guards. The ship left Liverpool but on the morning of 2 July 1940 she was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland. The sinking resulted in the loss of over 800 lives, including 442 Italians. Ferrucio Operti of Southampton was one of those who sadly perished. There were fourteen Italians on board whose residence was given as Southampton prior to detainment. Seven of them perished in the sinking, the other seven were rescued but, within days, packed off to an internment camp in Australia on board HMT Dunera in what was a very controversial voyage. There’s an excellent paper by Alfonso Pacitti online about the Italian casualties of the Arandora Star.

Enrico returned to Southampton after his internment and married Patricia Oram in 1955.

Bowling Green House was listed in the 1940/1941 street directory as Southampton & Overseas United Club, with a man named W. R. Coombs listed as its owner and Feruccio Operti as its secretary, shortly before he was detained. The club does not appear in the 1946 directory, suggesting that it had disbanded and the building’s long and eventful connection to Southampton’s Italian community therefore had come to an end.

How’s your French?
Last year we were visited by a French TV crew who produced a short feature on bowls for the ARTE channel. It’s voiced over in French, so feel free to dust off your GCSEs — sadly there are no English subtitles either (German, if that helps).
From what I have managed to translate, it’s a great little insight into the quirky history and origins of bowls — and it’s great seeing how our beloved game is seen from across the Channel. There’s also a segment featuring Atherley Bowling Club.

You can see it here:

En Angleterre, un jeu de boules nommé lawn bowls - Invitation au voyage - 19/01/2026 - Regarder le documentaire complet | ARTE Si la pétanque incarne l’art de vivre à la française, la lawn bowls pourrait bien être sa cousine britannique. À une différence près : ici, pas de gravier ni de pastis mais une pelouse parfaitement tondue et des boules à la trajectoire étonnante. Partout où les Britanniques ont planté u...

📰Did you see us in the Daily Echo the other day?
A little taste of our history! If you want to learn more, pop by any Friday evening and we'll happily show you around!
Now's also a great time to get in touch if you're interested in taking up bowls! The season starts in April so come along, meet some new friends, find out what you'll need and be ready for the green opening! ✍📞📧

The Southampton Old Bowling Green is often described as the oldest bowling green in the world still in operation.

🎄 Merry Christmas from everyone at SOBG! 🎄

On behalf of the committee and all our members, we’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Thank you for your support, your good spirits and all the great moments shared on and off the green this year.

We hope the festive season brings you plenty of comfort and cheer, and we look forward to rolling into a fantastic new year together!

Today, we remembered sir Don Weaver, a true Knight of the Green, whose warmth and camaraderie lit up the club. Bowling was in his blood and he was never without a smile — or a drink in hand! He was a regular at the annual Knighthood Competition and a cherished member of our club.

The funeral was a fitting tribute, with a strong turnout from fellow bowlers and friends. The sight of his Knight’s top hat resting atop the coffin was a poignant touch that reminded us all of his spirit and dedication.

Well done to lady Pauline and daughters for the strength you showed today. You did him proud.

We hope to arrange a memorial game next year in his honour — a chance to gather, bowl, and a fitting way to celebrate the life of sir Don, a man who lived and breathed bowling.

Rest easy, sir Don 🕊

🎉 Southampton & District Bowling Associations Awards Presentations 🏅

This weekend saw two fantastic celebrations of local bowling talent!

A huge congratulations to all the winners celebrated at the Southampton & District Women’s Bowling Association Awards Presentation Luncheon! 🏆 Your dedication, skill and sportsmanship have made this a season to remember.

Over at the Southampton & District Bowling Association Men’s Presentation Lunch, we were proud to celebrate all the league champions — with a special shoutout to OUR Triples team for winning the Combination Triples League 2 title! 🏆👏

Thank you to the organisers and to the host clubs — Fleming Park BC for the women’s and Pirrie Park BC for the men’s — for putting together such wonderful events and for all the hard work behind the scenes throughout the year. 👏

Wishing everyone a restful off-season and all the very best for the next one — may it be filled with great games, good company and plenty of success on the greens! 💛💚

🏆 SOBG Closing Day and Awards Ceremony 2025 — What a Celebration! 🎉

We kicked off the day with a brilliant game of Knights vs Commoners — a fun and friendly match that set the tone for an evening full of laughter, camaraderie, and well-deserved recognition.

A huge congratulations to all our winners and runners-up at this year’s Awards Ceremony! Your hard work, team spirit, and dedication truly shine — and it was fantastic to celebrate together.

📸 We’ve shared photos of the winners and runners-up from the night, so be sure to check them out and give them a cheer!

A massive thank-you to everyone who helped bring the evening together — from organising the trophies to setting up the room, sorting the food and keeping the night running smoothly. These events wouldn’t happen without you!

Fancy a shot at winning one of our trophies and getting your name on the honours board? Whether you're a seasoned player or just curious to give it a go, SOBG is a welcoming club with something for everyone. Come along, meet the team, and see what we’re all about — we’d love to have you.

The Lord Mayor of Southampton joined us for our Closing Ceremony and Awards Dinner last night!

Thank you very much for coming and celebrating this historic year for Southampton Old Bowling Green. It’s been an honour having you join us this year!

🕊 An update from sir Martin's Family:

The funeral service for our Dad, Martin Marum will be held on 26th September at 3pm at Wessex Vale Crematorium.

Following the service, there will be a wake at The British Legion in Park Gate. All who knew and loved him are warmly invited to join us in celebrating his life.

Family flowers only please. Instead, please click the donation link below, where contributions will go towards Alzheimer's Society and Sage House.

If you are unable to attend, but would still like to be a part of the service, you will also find access to the Live stream of the service and be able to leave a personal tribute on the page.

Margaret, Gary, Sarah and family ❤️

https://martinmarum.muchloved.com/

🏆 We have a WINNER of The 250th Annual Knighthood Competition! After 7 days of spirited bowling, 8 lively sessions and 61 thrilling ends, one name has emerged victorious... Paul Spencer is officially our Junior Knight Elect! 🎩

👏 Massive congratulations to Paul (not sir yet, but not too long to wait 😉).
This year’s competition has been nothing short of legendary — a true test of skill, stamina and spirit. From dramatic comebacks to nail-biting finishes, the shocks and the surprises, it’s been an epic celebration of tradition and talent and an unforgettable chapter in Knighthood history! 🕊 In the midst of celebration, we also hold a quiet thought for sir Martin, whose legacy will be remembered.

🙏 A HUGE thank you to everyone behind the scenes who made this event possible — the unsung heroes who kept the green pristine, the drinks flowing, the livestream running, the sessions officiated, the moments captured and the entire competition running smoothly. Whether you helped with the setting up, packing down, were cheering from the sidelines or tuning in from afar, your support is what keeps the spirit of Knighthood alive.

🎉Here's to the 250th — a milestone marked by excellence, camaraderie and one brilliant new champion. Long may the tradition thrive!

🎩 We're still looking for a winner in The 250th Annual Knighthood Competition! Join us here on FB 🔴Live at 6pm or at the Green to find out if tonight is the night!
There are now 4 'gentlemen commoners' on 5 shots, they need 7 to win and become Junior Knight Elect. We had 2 gentlemen on 5 shots the previous night who didn't manage any more shots this time! Will it be today?!