We are thrilled to announce the completion of the Newbery Steps Cricket Pavilion project in Dean Park, Bournemouth. This Grade II listed building, had fallen into disrepair. Our team worked diligently to transform it into a vibrant, sustainable community space. With a deep respect for its heritage and a focus on modern functionality, this project reflects our passion for preserving history while meeting contemporary needs. Challenging projects like this can only succeed with the support of a brilliant client and collaborative design and construction team that have delivered a project which we’re all really proud of.
A Passion for Heritage
From the outset, our team was committed to retaining the pavilion’s historical essence. By carefully dismantling and rebuilding the structure, we ensured that the spirit of the original design was preserved. The barrel-vaulted timber framework, a defining feature of the pavilion, has been thoughtfully recreated.
The Newbery Steps Cricket Pavilion, originally built in the early 1900s, had long been an iconic part of Dean Parks Cricket Heritage. Over time, the building deteriorated, and together with greendale and our client we saw an incredible opportunity to restore this space to its former glory.
Repurposing Salvaged Materials
Sitting well with our philosophy of re-use and repurposing, we knew from the onset we had the opportunity to salvage materials and re-use them in the new design. We repurposed the original floorboards as external cladding, used parking boards and tongue and grove cladding internally, and original cricket sign posting was retained and used in the new space to pay homage to its cricket heritage.
Listed Buildings and Sustainability
To meet modern environmental standards, we introduced thermal insulation, air source heat pumps for underfloor heating, and a variety of energy-efficient upgrades. These measures ensure the building’s sustainability while preserving its historical significance.
Overcoming Challenges with Creativity and Collaboration
This project presented some unique challenges. Halfway through the build, we discovered that the original timber barrel-vault structure couldn’t be salvaged. This presented an exciting opportunity to re-use a significant amount of salvaged materials and blend them with the replacement timber structural elements in the spirit of the original design. The construction team at Greendale Construction were onboard from the beginning with helping us achieve a design that reflects its heritage and reclaimed historical features.
As Peter Ward, our Managing Director, reflects:
“We love working on listed buildings, and Newbery Steps was particularly rewarding. By reusing original materials wherever possible, we’ve created a design that is both respectful of its history and suitable for modern use.We feel the design is a great reflection of its cultural heritage. Challenging projects like this can only succeed with the support of a brilliant client and collaborative design and construction team that have delivered a project which we’re all really proud of.”
Now completed, the Newbery Steps Cricket Pavilion is ready to serve the Bournemouth community once again. This project is a reflection of our passion for bringing new life to historic buildings. We are proud to have played a part in ensuring this cherished landmark will continue to inspire and play a part in dean parks cricket history. If you have a heritage project or listed building that needs restoration or repurposing, we’d love to work with you, contact us below or view our heritage and listed buildings page to see how we could help you.
Photography Credit: Richard Chivers
