Children's Play Park photos Various May 2026
Lisa Creighton in the early 1970s
The children's Play Park areas have been well-used over the years and frequently repaired. Bob Hancock, groundsman for the Rec from about 1974 to about 2004, recalled some of the work in his autobiography:[1]
Thinking back about Box Recreation field, when we were kids, the council put in new swings, a slide and roundabout which were still there in the 1970s, also a see-saw which, believe it or not, is still there, so that has got to be over 60 years old. I put in an under-7s area in two of the allotments as they were not being used at the time. I hired a digger and excavated the area myself, then fenced it in and built a climbing frame, put in a set of swings and Roger Barton, who was chairman of the Playing Fields at the time, made a lovely Wendy-house out of a 250-gallon oil tank. I then had a load of wood chips delivered and spread it around the area. This would have been the first excavating done on the recreation field since Smith and Lacy Contractors levelled out the bottom meadow and made a football pitch in the early 1950s. They also tipped waste from the pre-fabs on Box Hill down beyond the pitch and made the actual field about another 3 acres bigger, doing away with the old sewage bed in the late 1950s when they built a new one the other side of the By Brook.
Thinking back about Box Recreation field, when we were kids, the council put in new swings, a slide and roundabout which were still there in the 1970s, also a see-saw which, believe it or not, is still there, so that has got to be over 60 years old. I put in an under-7s area in two of the allotments as they were not being used at the time. I hired a digger and excavated the area myself, then fenced it in and built a climbing frame, put in a set of swings and Roger Barton, who was chairman of the Playing Fields at the time, made a lovely Wendy-house out of a 250-gallon oil tank. I then had a load of wood chips delivered and spread it around the area. This would have been the first excavating done on the recreation field since Smith and Lacy Contractors levelled out the bottom meadow and made a football pitch in the early 1950s. They also tipped waste from the pre-fabs on Box Hill down beyond the pitch and made the actual field about another 3 acres bigger, doing away with the old sewage bed in the late 1950s when they built a new one the other side of the By Brook.
The playpark in the early 1950s with cousins Sandra Sheppard (nee Bradbury), Carol Gale (nee Bradbury) and Jenny Lyford (nee Nicholas).
Children’s Play Area, 1983
More memories from Bob Hancock:
About that time, we excavated the top play area and I had to get rid of the old roundabout and slide. This was a master stroke by Roger Barton and it transformed the recreational area. He brought down a huge climbing frame he had made for his grandchildren, which for some reason was not wanted at home.
More memories from Bob Hancock:
About that time, we excavated the top play area and I had to get rid of the old roundabout and slide. This was a master stroke by Roger Barton and it transformed the recreational area. He brought down a huge climbing frame he had made for his grandchildren, which for some reason was not wanted at home.
Modern Restoration
The Lower park for the under 7s park was improved in the early 2010s. This bit is being refurbished with a new castle and plans for train, tunnel and station
The Lower park for the under 7s park was improved in the early 2010s. This bit is being refurbished with a new castle and plans for train, tunnel and station
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Reference
[1] Bob Hancock, A Wiltshire Lad, 2019
[1] Bob Hancock, A Wiltshire Lad, 2019