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Recreation Ground
Grayfields was
laid out in the early 1920's by Kent & Bryden of Darlington on the instructions
of William Gray & Company Ltd., the local shipbuilding firm, which was
known throughout the world for its ships the workforce produced.
The 28 acre site, in the Jesmond Road area of the town, cost the Company £6,500, and a further £23,500 was used for development with the bulk of the money, £28,000, coming out of Gray's reserve funds.
In addition to the money injected into the scheme by the Company, the workforce raised £5,000 between 1920 and 1925. As a private concern Grayfields had a short life - it opened early in 1920 with the establishment of the enclosure playing fields, and it ended its days in April 1926, when West Hartlepool County Borough Council took over the running of the scheme.
Although the Council had secured the Recreation Ground for the town there was an outcry over the way the directors of Gray's had, in the opinion of a number of townspeople, failed to take into consideration the interests of their workforce.
The Company had blamed the prolonged depression in shipbuilding for the winding up of the scheme, a view which was not accepted by the majority of employees, who claimed that the depression was used as an excuse to close down the Recreation Ground which was showing a loss of over £1,00 per year. Furthermore, the workforce claimed it had a financial interest, and some employees went as far as to say that Grayfields had been a gift to them from Sir William Gray and his directors.
But in fairness to the Company there was a depression, and moreover no documents were produced stating that Grayfields belonged to the workers, and the Company had the right to claim that in exchange for the sum of money donated, members of Gray's Sports Association had made use of facilities, virtually free of charge, for 5½ years.
Pavilion
From its inception in 1920, till 1926 when it was taken over by West Hartlepool
Council, Grayfields was the property of Gray’s Shipyard and run by a
Committee, managed initially by Colonel Grellet.
Grayfields was laid out by Kent and Bryden of Darlington.
The Enclosure football pitch was the first part to be completed in 1920, this being quickly followed by Tennis Courts, Rugby and Soccer pitches, and a Cricket pitch. Plans were put forward for Bowling Greens and the Oval Cricket Ground. The Bowling Greens were completed in 1921 and in the Summer of 1921 an inaugural Cricket match between Grays and Castle Eden was played on the Oval cricket ground. In the absence of facilities for spectators, forms were placed around the ground.
Grayfields was getting more popular, and soon there were 31 soccer teams competing for a cup provided by Captain Jack Farmer, several Rugby teams fighting for honours, the Tennis Club had over 100 members and scores of Bowling and Cricket teams made Grayfields their venue.
In 1923 Quoit alleys were set up bringing yet another sport to Grayfields.
The need for a sports pavilion, providing player changing, hot and cold showers, plunge bath facilities together with spectator and tearoom accommodation had been apparent for some time but due to the decreasing financial situation of the Grays Recreation Association it now looked as if this would not be built.
However, Capt. F.C. Pyman, a director of Grays and Vice President of the Recreation Association, approached Sir William Gray and the result was that the Gray family funded the building.
It was designed by the staff at Grays and built by Mr. E.M. Tweddle at a cost of approximately 2000 Guineas.
It was officially opened by Mrs. Musgrove (sister of Sir. W. Gray) on 10th May 1924 and was considered at that time to be, one of the finest in the North of England.