Recreation Field 1926 Alan Payne March 2022
This fascinating photo shows the upper Rec field (right) sloping down to the unlevelled lower Rec (left) before the slope was terraced and tree line planted (courtesy Hugh Sawyer)
The creation of Box’s village green (The Rec) in the years 1923-26 was one of the most significant achievements in the history of Box. For centuries, it had been just a field, part of the meadow grazing land of the Manor House, usually known as Farm Mead. but the acquisition of the area for the community of Box altered the whole of central Box. Before the foundation of the Rec, village gatherings had mostly been held on Fete Field, the eastern part of what has now become Bargates. We get a good idea of these events from a description in 1920: a procession around the village by the Box Troop of Boy Scouts with the Corsham Town Prize Band , a large number of people in fancy dress, decorated vehicles and members of the various friendly societies, with their banners and regalia.[1] At Fete Field there were athletic sports, skittles, Jennings' roundabouts and all the fun of the fair, including a baby show and two exhibitions of local mechanical waxworks.
Acquiring the Recreation Field
There had already been ribbon development with the rank of terraced houses called Mead Villas along the route of the A4 road in 1906. To some extent, this limited the agricultural use of the land but the farm had been unproductive for some time and was poorly placed for husbandry in the centre of the village. For many years the cricket club had occupied much of the upper field for sport. The obvious use was for residential development, possibly on a similar basis to the later schemes at The Bassetts and Bargates. In 1923 the owners of the farm, the Northey Trust, indicated that they wanted to sell the land and the cricket club were given a 60-year tenancy on the area.
The terms of the trust obliged it to be remunerated and George Jardine Kidston of Hazelbury Manor bought it in 1925 before gifting it to the parish council for the enjoyment of the village in December 1926, six months after the General Strike had brought Britain briefly to a halt. It was a magnificent achievement to secure the area for the benefit of the community.
There had already been ribbon development with the rank of terraced houses called Mead Villas along the route of the A4 road in 1906. To some extent, this limited the agricultural use of the land but the farm had been unproductive for some time and was poorly placed for husbandry in the centre of the village. For many years the cricket club had occupied much of the upper field for sport. The obvious use was for residential development, possibly on a similar basis to the later schemes at The Bassetts and Bargates. In 1923 the owners of the farm, the Northey Trust, indicated that they wanted to sell the land and the cricket club were given a 60-year tenancy on the area.
The terms of the trust obliged it to be remunerated and George Jardine Kidston of Hazelbury Manor bought it in 1925 before gifting it to the parish council for the enjoyment of the village in December 1926, six months after the General Strike had brought Britain briefly to a halt. It was a magnificent achievement to secure the area for the benefit of the community.
Box Children enjoying facilities on the Rec in 1937 by Henry Charles Flashman and exhibited in 13th London exhibition of Civil Service Photographic Societies (courtesy John Flashman)
The original area looked substantially different to today’s appearance. Bob Hancock recalled how the early field was configured: The cricket club pavilion was at the back of the Comrades Club. There were no trees separating the top and bottom field only a hedge on the division and elm trees down to the stream. On the west side was a pond next to the current car park. Alec Smith and George Lacey scooped out the bottom field to make it level and used the soil to make a bank where previously it had been a gradual slope. There used to be a hedge to Valens Terrace and a 5-bar gate where the wet patch is. Rubble from the Boxfields prefabs was buried (in the bottom field) 1951-52.
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Brooke family gatherings on the Rec outside of 2 Mead Villas (both courtesy John Brooke Flashman). Left: View of the Rec about 1925;
Right: Standing from L to R are Ruth Brooke (wife of Walter Brooke), Arthur ("Art") Brooke and Virginia Brooke. Seated from L to R are Walter Brooke,
John Brooke and Henry ("Harry") Brooke, probably about 1928. Incidentally Ruth (nee Neal) was a cousin of H G Wells.
Right: Standing from L to R are Ruth Brooke (wife of Walter Brooke), Arthur ("Art") Brooke and Virginia Brooke. Seated from L to R are Walter Brooke,
John Brooke and Henry ("Harry") Brooke, probably about 1928. Incidentally Ruth (nee Neal) was a cousin of H G Wells.
Use of the field was slow to develop and early photographs show the field still resembling a meadow, with summer use discouraed by the cricket club's occupation of parts of the area. The first definite meeting recorded was that of the Mothers' Union in 1933 to greet the bishop of Bristol. Thereafter the site was in regular use for celebrating the silver jubilee of George V in 1935 and the coronation of George VI in 1937.
The cricket pitch on the upper Rec and divided from the lower field by a hedge but otherwise leading straight down to the railway track. The tramway under the A4 down to The Wharf is clearly seen top right (courtesy John Brooke Flashman and Michael Rumsey)
The extent of the generous gesture by GJ Kidston shouldn’t be underestimated. The Rec provided a venue of village celebrations previously held on private land, such as Fete Field (now developed as Bargates residential area). The field has many times united the whole village in celebrations as well as providing a safe and convenient playing area for local children who otherwise had to play on the unsurfaced school playground that was described in 1927 as either a sea of mud or a veritable Sahara of germ-pervaded dust.[2]
The view over the Rec from Mead Villas. Can you spot what is missing compared to today’s view? (courtesy John Brooke Flashman)
Taking Over from Fete Field
After the Second World War, the location of village gatherings moved from Fete Field (now redeveloped as Bargates), a name still remembered as the site of August Bank Holiday travelling fairgrounds. The visits of fairs shifted after 1945 to the centre of the village at The Rec and John Brooke Flashman recalled an early fair and circus held behind the rank of Mead Villas:
In the late 1940s a small travelling circus came to Box It was called "Bailey's Star Circus". It only had four performers, one of whom (the clown) was clearly in charge but it was quite good, nonetheless. I do remember that on the day the circus arrived nothing at all happened on the day until quite late in the morning, probably after 11am. I was watching the field from the window in the back room of 2 Mead Villas and was amazed at the speed at which the big top was erected.
We were allowed to attend one performance. I think the seat prices were one shilling, one shilling and three pence, or one shilling and sixpence. Because our parents had bought middle price range tickets, we found ourselves sitting apart from the village children. My recollection is that we were the only occupants of that seating area, so we ended up watching the performance in splendid isolation, which perhaps was just as well as they were very unruly and had to be called to order by the clown (using a megaphone) on several occasions. As far as I recall the circus packed up and left the following day. I wonder if anyone still living in Box remembers it.
After the Second World War, the location of village gatherings moved from Fete Field (now redeveloped as Bargates), a name still remembered as the site of August Bank Holiday travelling fairgrounds. The visits of fairs shifted after 1945 to the centre of the village at The Rec and John Brooke Flashman recalled an early fair and circus held behind the rank of Mead Villas:
In the late 1940s a small travelling circus came to Box It was called "Bailey's Star Circus". It only had four performers, one of whom (the clown) was clearly in charge but it was quite good, nonetheless. I do remember that on the day the circus arrived nothing at all happened on the day until quite late in the morning, probably after 11am. I was watching the field from the window in the back room of 2 Mead Villas and was amazed at the speed at which the big top was erected.
We were allowed to attend one performance. I think the seat prices were one shilling, one shilling and three pence, or one shilling and sixpence. Because our parents had bought middle price range tickets, we found ourselves sitting apart from the village children. My recollection is that we were the only occupants of that seating area, so we ended up watching the performance in splendid isolation, which perhaps was just as well as they were very unruly and had to be called to order by the clown (using a megaphone) on several occasions. As far as I recall the circus packed up and left the following day. I wonder if anyone still living in Box remembers it.
The status of The Rec and of the parish council wasn't self-evident, however much the legal documentation seemed to indicate. In June 1949, clarification was sought and the council received with great joy a letter from GJ Kidston confirming his understanding of his gift: In order to set all doubts at rest, I am writing this letter to place it on record that I have no objection to the Parish Council exercising their powers under the Physical Training Recreation Act of 1937 in relation to the land comprised in the 1926 Deed of Gift.[3] Several concillors asked for clarification: if the council had full control of the site and if a village hall could be built on the field - to which the answer was a definite yes.
John Brooke Flashman added: The recreation ground was originally divided in two by a hedge which was removed in either the late 1940s or early 1950s. When a new football pitch was constructed on the lower field this involved major earthworks.
John Brooke Flashman added: The recreation ground was originally divided in two by a hedge which was removed in either the late 1940s or early 1950s. When a new football pitch was constructed on the lower field this involved major earthworks.
References
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 25 September 1920
[2] Parish Magazine, Feb 1927
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 25 June 1949
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 25 September 1920
[2] Parish Magazine, Feb 1927
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 25 June 1949