The History of Clockhouse

Clockhouse Gardens

Clockhouse Gardens is a small public park occupying the site of the former gardens of New Place. Dating back to the Tudor era the New Place estate was inherited by Sir James Esdaile in 1757 through his second wife. By 1775 Esdaile had demolished and rebuilt New Place.

New Place’s coach house and stable block within the grounds with its clock turret, dome and weather vane, bought from the Woolwich Arsenal, housed the circular black face clock with gilt figures, by the famous London clockmaker Edward Tutet. In an age where it was rare for people to own a timepiece, this village clock provided the people of Upminster with their only public timepiece and became known as “The Clockhouse”.

Clockhouse c1927, after it was bought by Upminster Parish Council.

In 1924, upon the death of the last resident of the manor, New Place house was demolished. The Clockhouse survived, was purchased by the Parish Council and used as Council offices. The grounds had largely become a wilderness in the years after the demolition of New Place and it was only in 1938 that work started to convert these into a public park and Clockhouse Gardens opened in the summer of 1939. In 1936 the Clockhouse became Upminster’s first library until 1963. Surviving demolition it was listed in 1972 and became residential accommodation.

A bowling green was constructed in 1952/53, funded by compensation received from commandeered park railings during the war years. Formally the kitchen garden and lawns, the bowling green in the western section of the gardens has a wooden clubhouse and is used by the Clockhouse (Upminster) Bowling Club.

Clockhouse (Upminster) Bowling Club

1952 - A public meeting was called on 2nd April by Hornchurch Urban District Council, being the landowners, to form a Mens Bowling Club. Chaired by Councillor S M Tucker J.P., the meeting was well attended with about 70 present and a Committee of 6 was formed to get the Club started. 

1953 – A general meeting was held in March where Councillor S M Tucker J.P. was elected President and a committee was elected. It was agreed the Club should be “Clockhouse (Upminster) Bowling Club”. A membership fee for the 1953 season was agreed at 10/6.
An opening match was played on 23rd May where all 6 rinks were used, 2 rinks Clockhouse v Police, 2 rinks Clockhouse v Haynes Park, 2 rinks Clockhouse v Romford Bowls Association.
Club colours were agreed as dark blue blazers with Club badges and dark blue tie. Application for affiliation was made to Romford Bowls and Essex County Bowling Associations.

1954 – Nine Ladies held a meeting in the “Thistle Cafe” to discuss forming a Ladies Bowling section, bowling greens were few and women on the green were not always popular with the men.
As time proved, husbands and wives or couples, could share bowling pleasures. Conditions laid down by the Council were discussed and the proposal to form a Ladies Section was agreed.

1956 – A new pavilion had been erected and the Clockhouse Ladies Bowling Club was formed with Club days on Monday and Thursday.

1957 - The erection of a hut for use as a kitchen was added, with purchase of calor gas equipment and crockery. The Men asked the Ladies to prepare and serve refreshments for Mens home matches and in return Ladies could have complete use of all their equipment. "How generous of them".

1957 The Ladies Section on Officers Day

1958 to 1967 – During this period mains services were provided to the pavilion along with a new mess room and toilets. Membership grew with the result that a cap was put on Ladies membership and a waiting list started.

Pavilion was set on fire in 1978

1997 - The Clubhouse was extended to the front.

2000 – More vandalism, this time to the green, water system, seats and windows.

2002 – As the result of the vandalism, with funding by Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust, security works to windows were carried out with the provision of shutters. Followed in 2003 by installation of the perimeter fence.

2013 – After 60 years this season embraced a new challenge for Clockhouse, as the Men and Ladies joined forces to harmonise as a Mixed Club.

The pavilion 2014

1978 – In October the pavilion went up in a puff of smoke when vandals set fire to it. The value of the loss was assessed at £1565, so the Club went into fund raising mode and a restoration fund was started with a grant of £500 from the Sports Council. Not to be beaten, match teas were set out on trestle tables outside with a water urn powered from the Ladies toilet!

1979 - A replacement Clubhouse was erected, but not really to meet the needs of an expanding membership, however it was not until July 1980 that it became fully operational.

Pavilion extension 1997

2014 - Today there are Committees working on organising Leagues, Competitions, Catering, Social Events ie. whist drives, bingo, beetle drives, fish & chip suppers, summer tours, etc. The Club also takes a step into the age of technology with electronic news and a website.

What next - watch this space!

Please note that more photos will be made available for viewing in a gallery.

E&OE