During the 1920's a Swanage team was formed which played on Saturday afternoons on the school playing field. In 1927 an approach was made by the committee of this team to Mr James Day requesting the use of one of the fields of his farm as a cricket ground. The reply was characteristic " if you can make a cricket ground out of that rough pasture in three years I will give it to you."
The members set to work to level, drain and cut the outfield and before the close of the 1927 season a game was played on a matting wicket against Blandford C.C. The following year a proper square was laid and a pavilion erected from a hut previously housing chickens, and a galvanised iron enclosure constructed as a tea shed. Water and gas were connected and the club was a going concern. On February 1st 1928 Mr James Day leased the ground to the committee of the Swanage Cricket Club for the period of 999 years at a peppercorn rent with a permanent right of way to the ground from the main road.
Due to the deterioration suffered by the ground during the war years cricket was resumed in 1946 at Forres School playing fields whilst efforts were made to improve the Club's table and overgrown outfield. Progress was slow and costly.
During the 1950's it was becoming increasingly apparent a new pavilion was a paramount need. At the end of the decade chance played a big hand in making this more than just a 'pipe dream'. Both Swanage cinemas had been closed and with the support of three other local associations the cricket club presented film shows in the Church Hall for two days a week throughout the summer.
In 1964 sufficient money had been earned to permit the purchase of an army hut 80' x 22' which was erected on the north side of the ground the following winter. Voluntary labour has already transformed one half of the building into a tea room and kitchen and it is hoped to convert the other half into changing rooms and showers this year. Much work remains to be done and unfortunately the present moratorium on grants for sports purposes has prevented the work proceeding as expeditiously as was anticipated.
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