The move to Beech Walk

Leigh CC - 1903

Leigh Chronicle, 8th June 1894

"The prettily-situated new ground of the Leigh Cricket Club at the Beech Walk is to be opened tomorrow (Saturday) by a South Lancashire League match between Leigh and their old rivals from Tyldesley. The ground is now in splendid condition and is an ornament and a credit to the town. The whole of the cricket-playing portion has been laid and forms a rectangular plot 142 yards long by 130 broad. The corners have been rounded off and the boundaries formed by a cindered track about six feet wide running right round the whole plot. Beyond this on the east side is a plot of land 150 yards long by 40 yards wide which is intended to be laid out for tennis courts and a bowling green."

"A substantial hoarding eight feet high has been erected all round the ground and the tent, which has been considerably enlarged, is placed under the shadow of the trees on the Beech Walk side and fronts the central portion of the ground which has been laid perfectly level for matches.

The dressing rooms have now been made very spacious and the lavatories are supplied with town's water. Close to the tent and between it and the entrance is a large open refreshment building which is expected to hold from 300 to 400 people during a shower. The tent itself has been raised as well as enlarged and also tastefully painted and decorated, and in front there is a terrace of three tiers which will afford an admirable view of matches, as the wickets will be pitched almost due north and south. On the town side a flag-staff surmounted by a weather vane forms a prominent object. The view of the ground from the east side with the tent in the background overshadowed by the trees in the Beech Walk is decidedly attractive: whilst from the south side a capital view is obtained of the town of Leigh with the spires and towers of its churches and chapels rising from the midst of a mass of buildings. The entrance is from the Beech Walk a few yards from the main road between Leigh and Newton, Warrington and St. Helens. The turf is admirably adapted for cricket purposes: a gravel bed that forms a natural drain being underneath the sods. In fact there is not a pound of clay on the ground, and few cricket fields in Lancashire will be as dry."

"The work of laying the ground has been admirably performed by the professional, W. Bunn, aided by a skilful band of assistants, and under the superintendence of the joint secretaries, Messrs. E. Williams and T.A. Horrocks, who have spent an immense amount of time on the ground since the work of laying it was commenced in November last. The general slope of the ground may be considered as from north to south, though the central portion is perfectly level and in some parts beyond the slope is so infinitesimal as to be almost, in places, imperceptible to the naked eye."

"The land has been taken on a lease of 21 years, dating from the 25th March 1895, from Mr. C.G. Milnes-Gaskell, J.P., chairman of the West Riding County Council, who has met the club in a very straightforward manner. It is to be hoped that efforts will be made to induce Mr. Gaskell to grant a renewal of the lease and, if possible, render the position of the Leigh club, as regards the ground, perfectly secure."

"The total cost of the work, when fully completed, will be about £1,000. The work of re-building the pavilion, fencing the ground, and erecting stable and tool-house at the south-east corner of the ground, has been admirably performed by Mr. Jos. Hilton. Mr. Arthur Johnson has executed the painting, and his efforts in this direction have been most appreciated."

"As to the distance of the ground from the centre of the town, it is not considerable. It can be reached from the Leigh Market-Place in a walk of about ten minutes, it is about eight minutes walk from the Pennington Station on the London and North Western Railway Company and about a quarter of an hour's walk along Mather-lane and through the fields. The ground is considerably elevated above the adjoining highway and light is expected to be far better than at the old ground."

"There has been a large influx of members this year, and about 120 are now on the books (excluding of season ticket holders), and there is ample evidence that more interest than ever is being taken in the old club and that it will be well supported in the future. All that is now required is that the public shall take an increased interest in the club's welfare and attend the matches in large numbers. A considerable sum of money is yet required before the club is out of debt, and anyone who is overburdened with too many of this world's goods may find the club an outlet for their generosity. It will be interesting to note that Mr. O.P. Lancashire, J.P., who, as is well known, was formerly a regular member of the Lancashire County team, will captain the Leigh team tomorrow; and as contests in any kind of sport against Tyldesley always excite more interest in Leigh than any other, there should be a large attendance on the Leigh ground tomorrow if the weather is fine."