Uley Parish Council   

ULEY PLAYING FIELD AND PAVILION

The Playing Field at Shadwell, on the outskirts of Uley, was bought by public subscription 

after the end of the Second World War, with money raised through the Uley and Owlpen 

Welcome Home Fund, launched in 1945. The aim was to establish a memorial to the thirteen 

members of the community who had lost their lives in the conflict; but the project was delayed 

for nearly fifteen years by legal arguments, difficulties over access and changes of policy.

At last, in March 1959, a deal was completed, and a fine, six-acre field was purchased for £1,000, providing plenty of space for separate cricket and football pitches, and a car-park. The first pavilion was built in 1960-61, partly with volunteer labour, and did good service for nearly fifty years. By 1999, however, it was becoming decrepit, and lacked modern facilities. The drive to replace it was begun by Wayne Fisher, a skilled stonemason whose family have lived in Uley for many years. Together with a friend, Jeremy Williams, he ran a weekly village lottery, and over ten years, showing remarkable stamina, he raised £50,000.

Fund-raising was then taken over by a small committee. Estimates showed that over £200,000 would be needed, and this formidable total was reached through generous contributions from local individuals and firms, among them Renishaw, and major grants from the Gloucestershire Environmental Trust, Sport England, Places People Play (as part of the Olympic legacy) and the Football Association. The old pavilion was demolished 

in November 2011, and the new one, built on the same site by a local firm, Mike Pain’s Elmtree Construction, was formally opened in May 2015 by one of Uley’s most distinguished citizens, the choreographer Gillian Lynne.

Public access to the field is free at all times, 365 days a year. Dog-walkers are welcome – provided they clear up behind them! In 2012 the field was registered as one of the Queen Elizabeth Fields in Trust, which guarantees that it will never be built on, but will 

be used for public recreation in perpetuity.

Bookings can be made by contacting Jonathan Dembrey on 07801 217230 or in the Uley Community Stores.

Duff Hart-Davis

November 2016