Bilton in Ainsty Cricket Club look set to build a new state-of-the-art pavilion thanks to a major refurbishment of Bilton Hall.
The club’s ground is on the Bilton Hall Estate near York but the club could only get funding from the England Cricket Board to build a new pavilion if they owned the land. So the Lloyd family, which owns the estate, stepped in to offer to pay for it.
The family is currently undergoing a multi-million-pound refurbishment of Bilton Hall.
Phil said it was an “amazing opportunity” to replace the previous wooden pavilion which is on its last legs. He said the new structure will cost six figures and will also include new changing rooms, a kitchen and a club room.
He added:
“Gifts like that don’t come across often.”
Phil said the village club regularly punches above its weight and last season played against bigger hitters such as Scarborough, Ripon, Easingwold.
Bilton Hall.
Read more:
The club recently submitted a planning application for the new pavilion and Phil said he hopes the parish council and Harrogate Borough Council can get behind it. He said it will be a “facility the local community can be proud of”
He added:
“I have played for the cricket club for my whole life. We’re all mates who have grown up together and now had children. The club is a focal point for the community.”
