Woolverstone Hall Cricket Pavilion Repairs

We want to raise money to return the Woolverstone Hall cricket pavilion to its former glory.

 

After 127 years, the pavilion needs repair. Most urgently, the thatched roof must be restored to prevent further external and internal structure deterioration. Without this repair it will continue to not be waterproof.

 

A range of different fundraising activities will be going on across Ipswich High School to raise money to pay for the renovation project.

 

Three phases are proposed for the renovation:

Many will remember the cricket pavilion which stands next to the playing field in front of Woolverstone Hall.  The pavilion was built in 1894 by Charles Berners, a keen cricket enthusiast.  The structure has many unique features, such as the branched arcading that can be seen in the photo, and was built using materials from the surrounding estate.  Woolverstone Park Cricket Club used the pavilion and played on the pitch in front of Woolverstone Hall.  Many teams came to play on the pitch at Woolverstone including Suffolk and even the England cricket team.   This photo from 1901 features an England 11 who had come to play Woolverstone park CC.  Notable players in the photo include -

Sir Pelham ‘Plum’ Warner, a former captain of England who played 15 tests and was part of the team that regained the Ashes from Australia during the tour of 1903-04 (happier times).  He is credited with reviving interest in The Ashes with his book, How We Recovered The Ashes.  Since then, 'The Ashes' has become synonymous with the test cricketing rivalry between England and Australia – the most famous competition in cricket.  Warner also managed the infamous “Bodyline” tour of Australia in 1932-33.

Bernhard Bosanquet, a successful Middlesex and England cricketer who invented the now famous ‘Googly’ delivery.

William Williams, another Middlesex cricketer who also played rugby for Harlequins.  In 1907, on behalf of the RFU, he purchased the land that Twickenham is built on – it was at the time a cabbage field.

Once Woolverstone Hall became a school the pavilion was still in use and many Old Woolverstonians fondly remember 1950’s cricket matches with tea served from the pavilion.