American Skittle Alley, The Warrington Club, Caroline Street, Ashton-under-Lyne

Opening off the conversation room (of the main club building) there is also a covered passage leading into the American skittle alley. This large room measures about 20 yards by 10 yards, and it is sure to be a favourite place of resort. Although built of wood. from about three to four feet from the ground. It is so handsomely painted and decorated that it has as comfortable and pleasing an appearance as if built of more substantial materials. The roof is in the open style of woodwork, painted white with pitch pine beams and supports picked out with red and blue and the whole presents a light and handsome appearance. Comfortable seats are fixed round the room. The exterior architectural appearance of this alley (which forms a wing at the north side) is in keeping with that of the main building. [Stalybridge Reporter 20 June 1874 page 8]

Although “American Skittles” enjoyed a degree of popularity in the 1860s and 1870s details of the game and its rules remain obscure. That it warranted its own “American” pins and balls is evident from adverts in the contemporary press but whether this was the precursor of  ten-pin bowling is unclear.

Reference    Stalybridge Reporter 20 June 1874 page 8