This very active and successful lawn bowls club was founded in 1912 and for 14 years played within the walls of Pickering Castle. After a period on a green on land at the corner of Ruffa Lane and Kirkham Lane (now part of Eastgate car park) the club moved, in 1949, to its present home in Mill Lane. The green replaced unused tennis courts that had been part of the Recreation Ground left in trust to the inhabitants of Pickering and the neighbourhood in 1938. The club is currently one of the three organisations sharing the ground with the Recreation Club under the terms of a charitable trust. The other two are the football and cricket clubs.

The club has had many past and present team and individual successes. The most notable being Betty Stubbings who was an England international from 1978 until 1992 and won double gold medals at the 1981 World Outdoor Championships in Toronto and a bronze four years later in Melbourne. She also won two bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games in 1982 in Brisbane and 1986 in Edinburgh and the national title in 1977.

The club participates in four local leagues.

Like many local clubs, membership has been declining in recent years, not helped by Covid, but the signs for the future are again looking good and new members will be given a warm welcome. The game is suitable for all ages and abilities. No previous experience is needed. The green is one of the best in the district. Interested, potential new members should contact the Secretary Jean Smith 07825 877429 or Chairman Robert Rayner 01751 471486 for further information and an opportunity to try the game without obligation.

Safeguarding information related to Pickering Bowls Club can be found on the following link below: