IP1 – Silver Jubilee Trees
This area is very much associated with Pool Cricket Club having been used by them since 1938. Prior to this cricket was played behind the White Hart, but land off Arthington Lane was purchased by the Whiteley family (then owners of the paper mill on the road to Otley) for cricket. The precise layout of the grounds as now seen came about in 1972, following compulsory purchase of some of the land previously used for sport to build Pool School.
The pavilion here was actually built by Pool Football Club in 2012, to house their changing rooms. The playing of football on these grounds was first allowed by the Whiteleys in 1946, on the understanding that the footballers and their spectators were not allowed to stray on to the cricket pitch.
The avenue of trees was planted to celebrate the silver jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 1977. The benches round the cricket pitch have been donated in memory of loved ones, and are used extensively on match day afternoons in summer.