Arnos Park was acquired by the London Borough of Southgate in 1928 from Lord Inverforth for the sum of £22,762 and covers 44 acres. The Viaduct running through the park supports the Piccadilly Line Underground extension to Cockfosters which was built in 1931.
Whilst there were other Bowling Greens within the Borough, the Councillors agreed to provide a Bowling Green in the newly acquired park.
In 1936 the Council’s committee was instructed to find suitable work for the unemployed, whereupon 60 men were engaged for various schemes, 20 of whom were allocated to the levelling and construction of the foundation of a Bowling Green in Arnos Park. In June 1937 a tender for “the provision of laying a Cumberland Turf green, building of a rockery bank, paths and iron fencing” was accepted for the sum of £730, and the work was carried out by J & D Proven Ltd. being completed by 7th October 1937. The Sports Pavilion was built for the sum of £2,200 in 1938. The Bowling Green was later improved with concrete edges in 1953/54.
The clubs presently using the other Bowling Greens in Broomfield and Grovelands Park were formed as a result of public meetings called at the insistence of the Council to which all persons interested were invited to attend. The Council considered that a similar procedure should be adopted to form a club for the Arnos Park Green.
Mr. H.H. Marks of 92 Morton Way was interested in forming such a club and advised that 27 other persons were also interested in the project. A meeting was held at his house on 4th October 1937 resulting in a resolution being passed “that this meeting of ratepayers of Southgate form themselves into a Bowling Club in Arnos Park, and that the Borough Council be informed”. The resolution was passed with 45 in favour.
Arnos Park Pavilion and Bowling Green was opened on Saturday 28th May 1938 by his Worship the Mayor, Alderman G.B. Massa with Alderman John Joy JP, Chairman of the Parks Committee, in attendance. After various speeches his Worship bowled a jack and a couple of woods. Following this some of the Arnos Club members, Councillors and members of Southgate and Grovelands Clubs played a match of 21 ends on four rinks, resulting in a win for Arnos by 26 shots. The match was followed by a supper in the Pavilion provided by the lady members.
The morning of the opening day suffered from torrential rain followed by light rain in the early part of the afternoon which eventually cleared up for the match, only for it to start raining again on the 21st end.
The Main Honours Board was presented by Mr. E W Patten in 1954, and other Notice Boards by Mr. W. Walsey. The exterior clock was presented to the Council by the Club in 1947. The weathervane on the pavilion roof symbolises the association of bowling with Sir Francis Drake.
Arnos Bowling Club started with 47 Playing Members including 8 Ladies and 12 Honorary Members. The cost of a Season Ticket & Locker was one pound ten shillings for a Playing Member, and the Club Badge cost two shillings. The sum of £36 was raised by the members to provide the necessary furniture etc. including 19 packs of playing cards at a cost of seven shillings and eleven pence.
Lord Inverforth presented a Silver Cup to Arnos Bowling Club for which there is a one-day competition held every year.
In 2002 a team from Arnos Bowling Club set the Guinness World Record for non-stop indoor bowling. Three men and three ladies, all Senior Citizens, played for 36 hours non-stop. Three members of that team still at for the Club.
