IT HAS stood the test of time for more than 700 years. Even a direct hit during the Second World War could not stop the sport on the world's oldest bowling green.

But now the Southampton Old Bowling Green, which was founded in 1299, is threatened with being taken over by the 21st century.

A proposed apartment complex development on a site currently used by the club as a car park could threaten its very existence.

Current master of the club Tony Copper, 71, said: "We are not going to get clubs to come and play because we are going to be isolated. Even our own members won't come here if there is nowhere to park their cars.

"If they gave us somewhere to park then we would not mind. It has to be within a reasonable walking distance because bowling bags are heavy.

"The city does not seem to have given us any support.

"We don't mind paying a nominal rate, but we are not a rich club."

Founded in 1299, when the first master was installed, the Southampton Old Bowling Club actually dates from 1185 and the time of King Richard I, when Roger Le-Riche was given the land to be used as a bowls green for the adjacent travellers' home in God's House Tower - part of the old city walls.

In the 1500s only people with an annual income of £100 could play bowls on the green and in the 1700s a £100 fine was levied on anyone caught playing the game of ball instead of practising their archery.

The club's 60 male members, who become known as Sir and wear top hat and tails if they win an annual Knighhood competition, and eight female members are recognised all over the world as belonging to the world's oldest bowling club.

Now Barratt Homes has submitted an application to Southampton City Council to build 218 flats on a site next to the club in Orchard Place and Lower Canal Walk in the city centre currently occupied by the old Customs and Excise building, Allport House and the British and International Sailors' Society.

Since Orchard Homes began constructing apartments adjacent to the Southampton Old Bowling Green on the club's old car park it has paid a peppercorn rent to use the Sailors' Society car park on match days. But once the Sailors' Society has gone the club's members will be left with nowhere to leave their cars.

Managing director Steven Wilks of Barratt Southampton said it was something they were unaware of but would be looking into ahead of the planning decision by the council.

"Certainly we are going to have to take that into consideration," he said.

SOUTHAMPTON OLD BOWLING GREEN

The club was established in 1299 when the first master was appointed but bowling on the green actually dates from 1187.

In 1388, bowling on the green was banned because it distracted men from practising their archery.

It sits on the old Saltmarsh, the oldest part of the ancient town, next to God's House Tower. When God's House laid claim to the land in 1503 it was declared to be common land.

In 1541 a statute was passed banning "inferior people" from playing bowls. In 1637 the green was described as a ground "where many gentlemen, with the gentile merchants of this town, take their recreation".

Each year a knighthood competition is held on the green where the winner becomes a knight for the rest of his life as a club member and is referred to as Sir, while his wife becomes Lady. Knights have to wear top hat and tails at the competition and the knighting ceremony is attended by the mayor of the city.

Each year a club master is appointed and a full list of masters from 1299 is held at the club.