Introduction

The British Xylonite Co. Ltd, founded in 1877, moved to Brantham from Homerton (Hackney), London, in 1887. The purpose-built factory produced the world’s first commercial plastic product - celluloid. It had a variety of uses, including acting as a substitute for ivory and tortoiseshell. 

The site on Brooklands Farm included sufficient land for houses and a large sports field. The factory, under several owners, continued to grow, producing a vast range of plastic products. An employees' club was formed by the company, known as the Brantham Athletic Association, later to be called Brantham Athletic and Social Club. 

The original club was for men only, with cricket, football, boxing, and quoits teams. Club colours were cardinal (burgundy) and white. Later, the emblem of the club badge became an elephant and tortoise, the elephant’s ivory representing white xylonite, and the tortoise's shell representing the speckled xylonite. The company’s magazine stated, “The elephant and tortoise unite to make the speckled and white”. The bowls club was formed in 1935.

By the early 1960s, the company had become the premier local employer, with a workforce of over 2,500. The factory was closed and demolished in 2007, but the bowls club still exhibits the metal plaques recovered from the factory gates.

The History of Brantham Bowls Club

In the early 1930s a bowls green was organised and laid by Mr Arthur Welham at the east end of the club road. Mr C. B. Brooke1, Works Manager, bowled the first wood on June 1st 1935, and Brantham Bowls Club commenced.

Friendly matches were arranged. There were no cars owned by members - only a couple of motorbikes. For close away matches the club used cycles or Dickie Butcher’s small bus from East Bergholt. In later years a few members owned cars and it was jokingly said that only those with cars would be selected to play.

After the war, the BASC committee improved the sporting facilities of the club. A new bowling green, costing £1,500, was laid with Cumberland turf on the current site, and a new club house was built on the northern end of the recreation ground. The green was opened by the Xylonite Company Chairman - Mr C. F. Merriam - on May 2nd 1948. The small pavillion from the old green was re-erected to be used as the groundsman’s hut - now the men’s changing room.

The club won the Tendring Hundred Bowling League in 1947, ‘48 and ‘49. The League consisted of six clubs: Brantham, Brightlingsea, Kirby, Wivenhoe, Mistley  & Manningtree, and Frinton Queens. Although there is no record of withdrawing from the league, the 1966 AGM minutes state that the club re-joined with the annual fees of £1-10s-0d (£1.50).
 

From 1951 an interworks game was held annually against Halex of Hale End for 30 years, ending in 1981 when Halex withdrew from the competition. 1951 also saw club member George Gibbs become the first bowler to gain a Suffolk County badge. A women’s club was formed for several years, with some members playing for Suffolk EBA women’s team, but was discontinued because of low membership.

The mens club affiliated to the Suffolk County EBA and membership of the Suffolk Triples League in 1962. In 1968 a small pavillion was presented to the club by the Merriam family in memory of Sir Laurence Merriam, the Company’s director and grandson of American, Levi Parsons Merriam, co-founder of the company.

During the 1960s Brantham joined the Clacton Indoor Bowls League. During the early days two rinks were laid down in the long cafe on Clacton sea front. When there was a high tide and strong wind, the salt water would enter the building and hot blowers were used to dry out the matting.

The bowls club opened its doors to all comers in the early 1970s. When the new Clacton bowling green was built, Brantham B Team members became champions in 1973 and ‘74. 

The Suffolk County Unbadged Fours Cup was won in 1973. The final was a close game throughout, Brantham requiring just one shot with the last bowl of the match. Sid Sage drew a perfect shot to defeat Marlborough Bowling Club. This match put Brantham on the Bowling map, some members having ten games for Suffolk, receiving their county badges. In two of these games the club’s rink won engraved glasses for being the best rink of the match. 

Four county matches were played at Brantham during the 1970s: West Surrey in 1973, Hampshire in 1974, Devonshire 1975 and Northamptonshire in 1976. In 1983 a women’s club was re-formed. The membership gradually increased and the women involved did much work to raise money for the benefit of all the bowlers in the club. The women took part in many county competitions and league matches including Federation and THL Triples. One member received her county badge in 1994. 

All members contributed financially and built a new pavillion on the west side of the bowling green. This was opened in 1984.
Membership in the men’s club increased during the 1980s and ‘90s, playing in the Suffolk and Tendring Hundred Leagues, and club matches. One member received his THL badge and two younger members played for the county under-25s team.

The section ‘G’ of the Federation (mixed) was won in 1993. In 2007 Peter and Sylvia Wilson become the Suffolk County Presidents (EBF). In 2010 the England Bowls President brought his team - 24 mixed players - to play Brantham to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the club.
Other names to note: Andrea Dickenson played in the national finals in Skegness (EBF) and Leamington (EB), Doug King and Tony Caley reached the mens pairs finals in Worthing (BE) and the Ladies Triples final was reached by Carol Weller, Joyce Alden and Diane Hill in Leamington (BE).

We used to take part in bowls club tours too. Organised by Tony Caley, club members went to Torquay (twice), Eastbourne, Bournemouth and Woolacombe, teaming up with members of the Margaret Catchpole Bowls Club to make up the numbers.
The last tour, organised by Carol Weller was to Walsall in the Midlands. 

The last few decades have also seen many further improvements to the club buildings including the construction of the gazebo in the north west corner, toilets, new memorial gates, the ladies pavillion, assorted storage sheds and numerous upgrades to the areas and walkways.

2025 saw the club reach its 90th Anniversary, something all the members are extremely proud of.