The chronological origin of lawn bowls, often simply referred to as bowls, is a subject of ongoing scholarly examination. Precise dating proves challenging due to the evolution of similar ground-based ball games throughout history. Visual depictions on Egyptian tombs, dating back millennia, illustrate activities resembling early forms of ground-based ball play, providing potential, albeit indirect, antecedents.
Pinpointing the exact advent of the modern game proves elusive; however, documentary evidence points towards the 13th century. One specific reference is to a manuscript dating from 1299, discovered in Southampton, England, which alludes to a game involving bowls. Regulations prohibiting the playing of bowls by working-class individuals further suggest its prevalence during this period. This implies that a recognizable form of the activity existed in the medieval era.
