The only Public House in Quarter was originally called, so the story
goes, The Bellerophon Inn. The original name came from one of Nelson's
ships during the battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and in 1862 the first ship
built to a new design of shorter, handier ships, divided into watertight
compartments was constructed and called the Bellerophon. In 1909 a ship
of the Dreadnought type was built at Portsmouth called the Bellerophon.
She was present at the battle of Jutland and after the First World War
she was reduced to reserve or subsidiary duties. The name Bellerophon
is from the Greek Mythology, the son of Glaucus, King of the Corinth;
he was the hero who tamed the winged horse Pegasus with the aid of a bridle
given to him by the goddess Athena.
It was recalled by Mr. Tom Reid that a small picture on the back gate
of the old inn was of a winged horse and that the Bowling Club has a trophy
called the Bellerophon Trophy and a winged horse as their emblem.
Nicknames in the Navy for various ships are legion and some are merely
mispronunciations and others seem to have no obvious origin. For ages
past the ships of the navy have been christened with most extraordinary
names; it is in a way a sign of affection in the same way that popular
people usually acquire one.
The Naval nickname for the old Bellerophon was always the "Billy
Ruffian" or "Bally Ruffian". The local dialect probably
did the rest as Billy can be heard by outsiders as Bully with a harsh
U and Ruffian "having no part in Quarter!" was dropped to become
just The Bully Inn.
The Quarter Bowling Club
The Opening of
The Bowling Club
in 1920
Contest between No. 1 and No 2 Pit in 1928
........ On Saturday, 2nd June, the bowling green at Quarter was the scene of a most exciting and interesting contest. The match was the result of a challenge between Nos 1 and 2 pits and the absorbing interest of the game may be explained by the fact that the No. 1 exponents, with true Yankee modesty, consider theirs the premier pit and themselves the high heid yins on the bowling green and in the village generally.
..........The opposing teams were:- No. 1 pit - Messrs. W. Jamieson, J. Ritchie, J. Lennox, Torrance, Fleming, Kane, McConnachie, Hanlon, McBeth, Higgins, Murphy and Williams. No 2 pit - Messrs. Jas. Lowe, J. Cassidy, W. Davies, John Lowe, Geo. Lowe, R. McLare, G. McLare, Todd, Reid, R. Lennox, J. Lennox and J. Davidson.
...........The Various rinks were, as regards their recognised playing abilities, pretty evenly matched, but despite all Wee Willie's personal prowess, despite all the "wicks," "chips," and "rubs," despite even his new Panama, big Jamie's warriors rubbed out the flower and the pride of No. 1 to the tune of 13 shots up. The day was one of glorious sunshine, just such a day as one would enjoy a victory or make light of a defeat and the players rose to the occasion manfully and the best of harmony prevailed throughout. At the tea which followed, the No. 1 men proved their superiority (?) by joining enthusiastically in the harmony, forgetting for the time being the bitterness of their downfall and - paying for the tea.
..........The purvey was in the capable hands of Mrs. Brodie of the Institute and the excellence of the catering fittingly rounded off the "best day on Quarter green." As it is intended to renew the contest at the first favourable opportunity, it has been suggested that next time the winners should pay for the drinks.
The Quarter
Bowling Green
in the year 2001
