Thoresby pavillions and picnics, entertainment and events.

 

Above: In the 19th and early 20th century, it became increasingly commonplace for UK villages, towns, estates and even factories, to have their own amateur cricket teams. They competed against each other, compiling their own league tables, whilst also providing an entertaining spectacle for a family day-out, and continued to thrive throughout the 1960s

Thoresby Park Cricket Club started c 1870. In the decades before the population of Perlethorpe Village expanded, with the building of  houses around the village green, and its own Social Club, Thoresby cricket pavilion was the centre of frequent social gatherings for whist-drives, dances, school concerts, and annual entertainment from something called the “Girl’s Friendly Society”. Looking at it today, it does seem a very small venue for some of that. It has no doubt been renovated at some point, but I am unsure how much of the current pavilion, if any, is the original.

Above: 2021. Thoresby Park provides two free permanent areas for family entertainment, A picnic ground by the River Meden and a woodland play area.

Today (2024) Thoresby Park gives host to everything from nature trails, theatrical events, food fayres, arts & crafts, carriage driving, simulated game shooting, pop concerts, classic car shows, - it’s a very long list!

Above: The Historic Bazaar, 2018.

Above: Fairground rides in 2021

Above: 2024. The Back 2 pop festival moves on.