Recreation Ground, Bath facts for kids
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The Rec
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| Location | Bath, Somerset |
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| Coordinates | 51°22′56″N 2°21′19″W / 51.38222°N 2.35528°W |
| Owner | The Recreation Ground Trust, Bath |
| Operator | Bath Recreation Ltd |
| Capacity | 14,509 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 1894 |
| Tenants | |
| 1894-present various |
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The Recreation Ground, often called the Rec, is a large open area in the middle of Bath, England. It sits right next to the River Avon. This space is meant for everyone to use for fun activities, especially the people of Bath.
A big part of the Rec is used by Bath Rugby during the rugby union season. It's a sports field that can hold over 14,500 people! In the summer, the temporary rugby stands are taken down. This makes space for cricket games on a bigger field. Local teams play cricket here, and Somerset County Cricket Club used it until 2011. Other parts of the Rec are used by clubs for hockey, croquet, drama, and even Quidditch. There are also tennis courts and pitches for amateur sports like football, volleyball, and lacrosse. You can find a cricket pavilion near the William Street entrance. The city's Sports and Leisure Centre is on the south side of the Rec.
In the past, the Rec sometimes flooded from the River Avon. But in the 1960s, a project helped improve the river's flow. Even so, the Rec is still in a flood area and can get very muddy after heavy rain.
Contents
History of the Rec
In the early 1890s, the land where the Rec is now belonged to the Forester family. In 1894, they leased it to a company called The Bath and County Recreation Ground Company Limited. This allowed them to prepare the land for sports like cricket, lawn tennis, archery, and football. A cricket pavilion was also started.
The first Bath rugby matches were played here in 1894. Three years later, the Rec hosted its first major cricket match. Somerset County Cricket Club played against the Gentlemen of Philadelphia. The company's lease was extended in 1908 for £100 a year. Later, in 1922, the company bought the land for £6,050.
In 1927, Bath F.C. got a new lease to use the west side of the ground. This included a Grand Stand and a Pavilion. The Grand Stand was badly damaged during the Second World War. It was rebuilt in 1953–54. In 1956, the land was sold to the City of Bath for £11,155.
The famous Bath Festival of Blues was held at the Rec on June 28, 1969. Bands like Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin performed there!
In 1974, the Rec was given to Bath City Council. The council built a Sports and Leisure Centre on the south side in 1975. In 2002, a court decided that the Rec was a charitable trust. This means the land must be used for "open-air recreation" for everyone. This caused some questions about how much of the land Bath Rugby could use.
On July 16, 2006, the Irish pop band Westlife held a concert at the Rec.
What is a Charitable Trust?
The Rec is now owned and run by The Recreation Ground Trust. This trust is a charitable trust. This means the land is held for a special purpose: to be an "open space" and a "recreational facility" for everyone. The rules say it should be used for "games and sports of all kinds" and other fun activities. It should not favor one sport too much.
Here's how the land was used in 2007:
| How the Rec was used in 2007 | |
|---|---|
| Open Space | 41% |
| Rugby Club (in season) |
27% |
| Council Sports and Leisure Centre |
17% |
| Croquet Club | 9% |
| Tennis Clubs | 5% |
| Drama Club | 1% |
Because the Rec is a charitable trust, there have been discussions about Bath Rugby using a large part of it for professional rugby. The Charity Commission, which oversees charities, has allowed the rugby club to keep using extra land temporarily. This is while they try to find a lasting solution.
The Sports and Leisure Centre was built in 1975. But after the 2002 court decision, the Charity Commission said this might not fit the "open space" rule of the trust.
Keeping Bath Rugby at the Rec
In 2006, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said that top rugby clubs needed stadiums that could hold at least 15,000 people. At that time, the Rec could only hold 10,300. This rule was later changed to 10,000.
People in Bath were asked what they thought about developing the Rec. In 2007, 64% supported making changes to the ground. The council wanted to allow Bath Rugby to lease more land for a bigger stadium. However, the Charity Commission needed to be sure that any changes would still benefit the public and the charity's goals.
Many plans were suggested, but they didn't fully meet the Charity Commission's rules for protecting the charity's purpose.
In 2009, Bath Rugby was allowed to use temporary seating to increase capacity to 11,700. The club's chief executive, Nick Blofeld, said they wanted a stadium for 20,000 people. It would include restaurants, cafes, and conference rooms. They looked at other sites in Bath but preferred to stay at the Rec.
In 2010, the capacity was increased again to 12,300 with more temporary seating. The Recreation Ground Trustees were told by the Charity Commission to come up with a new plan for the Rec.
A big idea was a "land swap." This meant Bath Rugby's training ground at Lambridge would become public land. In return, the rugby club could use more of the Rec. In 2011, over 4,000 people responded to a survey about this idea. 86% were in favor of the land swap.
In 2012, the Charity Commission agreed in principle to the land swap. This would allow the club to expand at the Rec. In 2013, the Charity Commission published a draft plan. This plan would change the charity's rules to allow indoor activities at the Leisure Centre. It would also allow the land swap for the rugby ground.
Some people objected to the plan. One resident tried to have the Rec declared a "Town Green," which would make it harder to build on. But this request was refused.
In June 2013, the Charity Commission officially agreed to the land swap. This meant the Rugby Club could develop the rugby ground at the Rec. The Trust would get the Lambridge land for public use.
In March 2014, a court allowed the plan with some changes. The Rugby Club's development was limited to the area they already used. This was smaller than they wanted but still enough for a 16,000-seat stadium. The Trust decided to appeal this decision. In July 2014, plans to temporarily increase the Rec's capacity by 2,000 seats were approved.
In July 2015, the Trust won their appeal. This allowed them to manage the Rec in a way that helps its charitable goals for the public. A new plan was agreed in December 2016.
The new plan said:
- The Trust must provide "outdoor recreational facilities for the public."
- It should mostly be used for "games and sports of all kinds."
- The Rec must stay an "open space," but it doesn't have to look exactly the same.
- The Trust can sell, lease, or swap parts of the Rec for other land near Bath.
- The leisure centre must be taken down when it's no longer useful.
In October 2020, a court said that old rules from 1922 could stop building on the Rec if it bothered neighbors. Bath Rugby and Bath Recreation Limited were allowed to appeal this.
On December 21, 2021, the Appeal Court disagreed with the earlier ruling. They said the old rules were not clear enough to stop building. This was a big step for the Rugby Club. It meant they could move forward with their plans, as long as they got planning permission.
Tarquin MacDonald, Bath Rugby CEO, said they were "delighted" and could now focus on new stadium plans. He said it would create jobs and help young people.
On October 18, 2022, the Supreme Court refused to hear another appeal. This ended the legal fight over redeveloping the Rec. The Club can now work on its plans and submit them for planning approval.
Real Friends of the Rec
The Real Friends of the Rec is a group that started in 2008. They want to see an all-purpose sports and cultural arena built at the Rec. They hope this would bring in more income and allow the stadium to be used all year round. This group has supported the idea of the land swap.
Friends of Bath Recreation Ground
The Friends of Bath Recreation Ground is a different group of local residents. They believe the Rec should not be used for professional sports. They have said they will take legal action if the Trust, Bath Rugby, and the Charity Commission agree to allow development on the Rec.
See also
In Spanish: The Recreation Ground para niños
