In 1898 John Harvey Bethell – first mayor of East Ham Borough – united with William H. Savage, the district surveyor for East Ham, and local landowner Col. Ynyr Henry Burges, Lord of the Manor and owner of Rancliffe House, to create Central Park. Seventeen acres of land around Rancliffe house were bought for £8,500 and then another eight acres for £4,000. The development also included a large number of houses designed for clerks and skilled workers.

The park was opened on 5 July 1898. 7,000 attended the event, enjoying refreshments and speeches stressing the importance of creating resources for children. The original park consisted purely of walkways and a fountain but later incorporated public baths, a sundial, a bowling green, glass houses and a putting green. Other highlights added later included the present war memorial, a small railway that carried residents round the park, and the park dances that used to take place during the Second World War and then again in 1948.

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In 1910 the bowling green was built and Central Park Bowls Club was founded in 1911.

Over the years the green was shared with two other clubs, Rancliffe Ladies Bowling Club and East Ham Bowling Club which are now both disbanded.

Before the second World War a pavilion existed adjacent to the bowling green, but this was destroyed by a fire in about 1940.

The Club was then given temporary accommodation in an old swimming bath building in the park, which was some distance from the green and which was shared for other purposes.  This building was damaged by fire on 3 separate occasions and, finally in 1989, it was so badly damaged that it had to be demolished.

After a period of time the Council provided two Portakabins for changing purposes adjacent to the bowling green. The Portakabins were very cramped on team, league and cup competitions on match days and the Club was restricted to providing only tea and biscuits outside the Portakabins.

In 1999 the Council was successful in a bid which was made to the Sports Council National Lottery Board for the building of a new pavilion and resurfacing of the bowling green, a Grand Opening was held on 6th Septetmber 1999 with the Chair of the Councils Leisure Services Committee, Councillor Lyn Brown doing the honours.

In 2011 the Club held a Centenary celebratory match against a side representing the East Ham and District Bowling Association, attracted local press coverage and the return of many former members and their families.

The Club is open to Club members and limited public use, where free tuition is available.