Clarence Park, Weston-super-Mare
Encyclopedia
Clarence Park was given to the town of Weston-super-Mare
by Rebecca Davies in memory of her husband. The cricket pavilion at the park dates from 1882. A multitude of sports have been played at the park, including cricket
. The ground is owned by the local council
. It is currently used by Weston-super-Mare Cricket Club
.
pitch; croquet matches are frequently held during the summer months. During recent years, this eastern section of Clarence Park has been used as a drop-off and pickup zone for the T4 on the Beach
music event.
The western section of the park is laid out as a more formal park with mature trees, flower beds, lawned areas and a fish pond with fountain. Part of the southern end of this section is taken up by the clubhouse and 3 greens of the Clarence Bowling
Club. At the north end, near Walliscote Road, there is a house originally used as the park-keeper's lodge. There is a children's play area near the western edge. Approximately in the centre of the western section of the park there is a small pavilion, operated in recent years as a cafe. The future of the cafe is currently under threat as a result of an arson attack which took place in early September 2011.
between 1914 and 1996. The ground has a capacity of 6,000 spectators. The first recorded match on the ground which involved a major cricket team was on 21 August 1914 and saw a Weston-super-Mare team play Glamorgan
, seven years before Glamorgan were awarded first-class status. Several days later Somerset played their first match on the ground against Yorkshire
. The highest attendance at the ground was 6,000 during a match against Hampshire
in the 1947 County Championship season.
In 1936, there was talk about moving the Weston festival away from Clarence Park, a move strongly resisted by Jack White
, who thought the ground to be "lovely". The festival remained at the ground for another sixty years, until the August 1996 Cricket Festival when Somerset played their final first-class
or List A match at Clarence Park. Their final opponent on the ground was Durham
.
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
by Rebecca Davies in memory of her husband. The cricket pavilion at the park dates from 1882. A multitude of sports have been played at the park, including cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
. The ground is owned by the local council
North Somerset
North Somerset is a unitary authority in England. Its area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county. Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall in Weston-super-Mare....
. It is currently used by Weston-super-Mare Cricket Club
Weston-super-Mare Cricket Club
Weston-super-Mare Cricket Club is an amateur cricket club based in the town of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England. Since the clubs formation in 1845, they have nurtured a number of players who have gone on to play for Somerset County Cricket Club and a select few who have gone on to play for the...
.
Layout
The park is laid out in two sections. The western section is considerably the larger and is separated from the eastern section by Walliscote Road. The eastern section is a large trapezoidal area of flat open lawn, with an encircling pathway; outside the pathway there is a wide band of less manicured land heavily populated with mature trees. The lawned area (pictured) is often used to host cricket matches. The cricket pavilion is at the western edge, backing onto Walliscote Road. Part of the southern edge of the lawn is marked out for use as a croquetCroquet
Croquet is a lawn game, played both as a recreational pastime and as a competitive sport. It involves hitting plastic or wooden balls with a mallet through hoops embedded into the grass playing court.-History:...
pitch; croquet matches are frequently held during the summer months. During recent years, this eastern section of Clarence Park has been used as a drop-off and pickup zone for the T4 on the Beach
T4 on the Beach
T4 On The Beach is a British one day music event which is held on the beach at Weston-super-Mare and televised for Channel 4. The event began in 2003 as Pop Beach in Great Yarmouth, changing to the current title and venue in 2005....
music event.
The western section of the park is laid out as a more formal park with mature trees, flower beds, lawned areas and a fish pond with fountain. Part of the southern end of this section is taken up by the clubhouse and 3 greens of the Clarence Bowling
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
Club. At the north end, near Walliscote Road, there is a house originally used as the park-keeper's lodge. There is a children's play area near the western edge. Approximately in the centre of the western section of the park there is a small pavilion, operated in recent years as a cafe. The future of the cafe is currently under threat as a result of an arson attack which took place in early September 2011.
Cricket
The park played host to home matches for SomersetSomerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
between 1914 and 1996. The ground has a capacity of 6,000 spectators. The first recorded match on the ground which involved a major cricket team was on 21 August 1914 and saw a Weston-super-Mare team play Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
, seven years before Glamorgan were awarded first-class status. Several days later Somerset played their first match on the ground against Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
. The highest attendance at the ground was 6,000 during a match against Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
in the 1947 County Championship season.
In 1936, there was talk about moving the Weston festival away from Clarence Park, a move strongly resisted by Jack White
Jack White (cricketer)
John Cornish White, known as "Farmer" or "Jack", was an English cricketer who played for Somerset and England. White was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1929...
, who thought the ground to be "lovely". The festival remained at the ground for another sixty years, until the August 1996 Cricket Festival when Somerset played their final first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
or List A match at Clarence Park. Their final opponent on the ground was Durham
Durham County Cricket Club
Durham County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Durham. Its limited overs team is called the Durham Dynamos. Their kit colours are blue with yellow trim and the shirt sponsor was...
.