The first evidence of curling in the world was discovered in Scotland in the 16th Century.
An ice game appeared in the Netherlands at the same time, on the paintings
of Pieter Bruegel and Jacob Grimmer. However, Scotland was the first country to exhibit hard
evidence of curling with the use of stones. The earliest report of the
game emanated from Paisley Abbey in 1541. Thereafter, both prose and verse from
Scotland frequently referred to the game called Curling.The shadowy past of the sport fails to reveal any real organization of clubs or rules before the beginning of the 18th Century. In 1716, the curlers of Kilsyth in Stirlingshire formed a club and others in central Scotland followed but not until 1760 did the Edinburgh Connonmills Curling Club come into being.
The first known rules of the game were set forth in November, 1739, but there was little indication of the method of play in what was written. The rules of the day seemed to primarily deal with conduct and mentioned penalties for gambling, swearing and non-attendance.
