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Sport is woven into the fabric of North East life. From cock fighting pits and the Quoits grounds of mining communities to the concrete cathedrals of modern football, it is still the backbone of our region.

Scroll down to find the lost sports grounds of yesteryear, and the treasured community spaces of today.

The Hulne Abbey ruins in 1947. Source: © Historic England. Aerofilms Collection    EAW008932 flown 9 August 1947

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Cricket

Hulne Priory, Cricket Ground

Alnwick

Alnwick CC

Updated:

10 Dec 2024

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Bowls

Bowling Green Plantation

Alnwick

Updated:

10 Dec 2024

Alnwick Shrovetide in the 1920s. Source: BBC

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Shrovetide Football, Cricket

The Pastures, Shrovetide Ground

Alnwick

Alnwick CC

Updated:

10 Dec 2024

The likely site of Stamps Close is the ground on the left.

Source: Historic England Archive (RAF photography)    raf_106g_scot_uk_19_rs_4270 flown 15 April 1946

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Cricket

Stamps Close, Cricket Ground

Alnwick

Alnwick CC

Updated:

10 Dec 2024

Alnwick Bowling Club upon reopening of the ground in 1894. Source: Bailiffgate Collections

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Bowls

Alnwick Bowling Club

Alnwick

Alnwick Bowling Club

Updated:

3 Dec 2024

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Curling

Alnwick Curling Pond

Alnwick

Alnwick Curling Club

Updated:

3 Dec 2024

Alnmouth Links, 1946. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly where the cricket club played, but it was likely closer to Marine Parade. 

Source: Historic England Archive (RAF photography)    raf_106g_scot_uk_24_rp_3033 flown 17 April 1946

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Cricket

Alnmouth Links, Cricket Ground

Alnmouth

Alnmouth CC

Updated:

26 Nov 2024

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Quoits

Red Lion, Quoits Ground

Alnmouth

Updated:

26 Nov 2024

Alnmouth in 1951. Source: © Historic England. Aerofilms Collection    EAW041297 flown 12 November 1951

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Football

Marine Parade, Football Ground

Alnmouth

Alnmouth United (?)

Updated:

26 Nov 2024

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Rugby, Football

Druid Park

Woolsington

Newcastle Blue Star, West Allotment Celtic, Fawdon FC, Gosforth RFC

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

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Ice Skating

Whitley Bay Ice Rink

Whitley Bay

Whitley Warriors, Whitley Wasps, Whitley Bees, Newcastle Vipers, Whitley Bay Ice Skating Club

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

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Swimming

Waves Swimming Pool

Whitley Bay

Updated:

20 Nov 2024

Map
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Background photo: Photograph of the Scottish Women's team preparing before a match against the North of England in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1938.

Historic Maps provided by

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