Sports Archive.
The Salt Grass Ground
su05
Last Updated:
30 Dec 2024
Athletics, Cricket
Home Teams & Clubs:
Opened:
Closed:
c1880s
c1900s
Redeveloped
Condition:
South Hylton
South Hylton Alma CC
54.911046, -1.439977
A cricket & athletics ground stood at this spot for a short period of time from around the 1880s to at the latest the 1910s.
It was known as the Salt Grass Ground, and was used by the South Hylton Alma Cricket Club in either the late 1880s or 1890s as per South Hylton Local History Society's "A History of South Hylton in Pictures". They had moved to the Fieldhouse Ground by the mid 1900s.
Our first insight into this site on the Ordnance Survey is on the 1890s plan, when an athletics track is shown next to the Ford Paper Works. It was a modest size with an irregular shaped track which was cut short on the south end by the lane leading to Claxheugh Rocks and the tramway. There was no infrastructure such as clubhouses or sheds, and seemingly had a short history.
It was demolished and cleared by 1913 as the Ordnance Survey features no trace. Little more is known of the site.
Thanks to @DaveFromUpNorth for the information regarding South Hylton Alma.
Ordnance Survey, 1890s
The Athletics Track stood in the build up site in the right of this shot, where the rowing club is now situated. Taken in 2022.
An aerial photograph from 1948, with the athletic ground within the perimeter behind the tip of the chimney. By this stage, there was absolutely no trace of the track.
Source: Historic England
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Historic Environment Records
Durham/Northumberland: Keys to the Past
Tyne and Wear: Sitelines
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