WOOLLAMS PLAYING FIELDS DEVELOPMENT
The UK's largest school sports field development was officially opened in October 2002. The £10m project covers 73 acres of Cheapside Farm, between St Albans and Harpenden.
It is named after Charles Woollam OA, who in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was a local philanthropist, a benefactor of both the School and the City of St Albans.
It is named after Charles Woollam OA, who in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was a local philanthropist, a benefactor of both the School and the City of St Albans.
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Cheapside Farm was purchased by the School in 1991, with a view to developing sports fields as the King Harry playing fields, on lease from the Verulam Estate, were becoming worn out and inadequate. The School also needed tennis courts and artificial surfaces for hockey. The Old Albanians Association was also struggling to maintain its grounds at Beech Bottom in an appropriate state.
After Planning Inquiries, work started on the site in February 2000. An entrance way was created off the Harpenden Road, and the fields were levelled. Although heavy rain in the spring of 2001 delayed some planting, the artificial surfaces were ready for hockey training during the Autumn term. |
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| This picture shows an area of farmland after levelling, ready for the preparation of sports pitches. |
Much effort and expense has gone into the landscaping of the site. This photograph shows some of the hundreds of saplings planted.
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| Cheapside Farm covers 390 acres between St Albans and Harpenden. The Woollams Playing Fields occupy 73 acres of former farm land. This area is in turn divided into two, with 30 acres devoted to the Old Albanians' facilities, and 43 acres providing sports pitches for the School. In all, there are 21 playing fields and two pavilions, one for the OAs and one for the School. |
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The impressive development provides 19 winter pitches (11 rugby, 4 football, 3 grass hockey pitches), one all-weather hockey pitch, 7 cricket squares with four blocks of nets (two grass and two artificial), as well as 2 blocks of tennis courts (one acrylic and one sand-filled carpet). The Director of the Institute of Groundsmanship, Richard Ayling, said, “We were absolutely stunned by the size of the project — it is going to be a showcase for future schemes.” | ||
| The artificial hockey pitch was in use from October 2001, giving valuable training opportunities to our players, and the whole site came into full use in September 2002, with HRH the Duke of Gloucester officially opening the grounds in October 2002. |  |
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The pavilion's steel frame
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The shape of the building emerges
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One of the staircases is fitted
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The first roof truss on the loader
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The truss is hoisted by crane
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The truss is lowered into position
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The pavilion on the way to completion
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Photographed on 5/5/02
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The laser-levelled playing surface
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The corners of the dining area are glazed
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The pavilion photographed on 12/8/02
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The spectacular engineering in the roof
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Glazing work continues
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The front corners overlook 1st XI cricket
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The glazed corners admit plenty of light
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Below: Hockey Training at Woollams
