The field known as the Brudenell Playing Field has long been used as a playing field in Baston – although it used to be shared with cows, sheep and horses! Other grass fields on other farms in the village were also used as playing fields but, being largely level and conveniently located, the Brudenell field tended to be the preferred site. It was known as the Brudenell Playing Field to distinguish it from the other fields and because it had been farmed by the Brudenell’s since 1873.
The Brudenell’s were only tenant farmers at that time and on the death of the Joseph Brudenell in 1961, the family were given terms to cease the tenancy by the Earl of Ancaster, being given the option to buy the field after 5 years. However, the Earl already had outline planning permission to build houses on the front fields which meant the price being asked was much more than the farming value. Realising that the village was possibly about to lose access to a facility that was important to the community, the village residents banded together and formed a trust to buy the land whilst fighting a legal battle to have the outline planning permission rescinded and reclassified as playing fields. This reduced the price and the site of over 9 acres was purchased for £5,600. This was no mean feat and the residents of Baston will be forever indebted to those individuals who made it possible.
One of the farm buildings was left on the site and converted into the Village Hall – hence the name of The Barn. It has since been developed and extended to provide an L-shaped hall, kitchen facilities, toilets and changing rooms with showers.
The land to the front of The Barn was developed into a Children’s Play Area, with the addition of the multi-surface area to the rear of the barn in 2003. Legislation requires all play equipment has to be bought and professionally installed to conform with ROSPA safety guidelines. This makes equipment and its maintenance very costly.
There is a Senior Football Pitch to the rear of the Field which has regular use. There is also enough room for a cricket pitch at the rear of the field but sadly there has been no demand to use this facility since the 1990’s and it would need maintenance if it were to be used again.
Being owned by the village in trust, with the deeds being held by the Charities Commission, the Brudenell Playing Field is protected from being sold off for housing land, a fate that has befallen similar facilities in other villages. However, being totally reliant on fund-raising, donations and income from the hire of The Barn to keep running, there are often insufficient funds to develop and renovate the site as would be liked. The members of the BPFMC are all volunteers who manage the site but they are dependent on the support and help of the whole village to make the facilities offered a success.
Site prepared by BPFMC volunteers