WHEN TIME WAS CALLED ON BRIGG SCHOOL'S PAVILION

 

It is now more than 20 years since the demolition of a well-known building at a Brigg school which had been used by pupils and also club players over many decades.
The wooden sports pavilion, erected at Brigg Grammar in the 1920s, continued to provide changing accommodation for cricket matches into the current millennium... but only just.
Brigg Blog has just chanced upon the picture (seen above) showing the pavilion shortly before demolition and while being used for a Brigg Town Cricket Club Saturday fixture.
By then the wooden building was in a poor state, particularly its roof, and deemed to be beyond economic repair at what was then Sir John Nelthorpe School.
The other picture (below), used here for comparison purposes, shows the pavilion during the late 1960s.
Part-funded by the proceeds of a special fete held at Brigg Grammar School, it had been officially opened on June 5, 1929.
A clock, located on the front of the building under the scorers' lofty box, was presented by headmaster J.T. Daughton and his wife. It gave decades of faithful service.
Brigg Town Cricket Club first hired the school cricket ground for Lincolnshire County Cricket League games in 1978.
Although the school's gymnasium changing rooms (with showers) were made available after pavilion use had been ruled out, there were some issues over the distance from the field. So the Town club took to erecting a temporary pitch-side gazebo on match days.
Eventually, however, all club games were played at Brigg Recreation Ground.
The brick-built building seen in the the background on both the pictures dated back to the 1890s.
A former school canteen used for mid-match cricket teas during the season, it was also demolished. We think the bricks may have been recycled. Showering facilities were latterly installed by the cricket club.

Many ex-BGS and SJN pupils will have fond memories of the old pavilion.
Its central area - between the changing rooms - was used to store athletics equipment, latterly including thick landing mats for the jumping pits.
Access to the cricket scorers' box was gained by using a wooden ladder. This vantage point offered panoramic views of action out in the middle.
Many pupils signed their names on the walls of the box (often accompanied by dates).
Some nesting birds also took a liking to the pavilion during warmer months of the year.