In 1895 the residents of Lowdham decided that the village needed a recreation ground for children.  However, nothing came to fruition until 1912 when 1 acre of the ‘Big Field’ was rented by the Parish Council for ‘the sole use of children under 14 years of age’.  Sadly, in 1915, this arrangement ceased due to lack of use.    

In 1927 and 1930 the idea of a recreation ground came to the fore once again, but no suitable sites were available in the village so the idea was put on hold on both occasions. 

In the early 1930s Lowdham Hockey Club and Lowdham Cricket Club were told they would no longer be able to use the fields on Nottingham Road.  Consequently, members from both clubs set up Lowdham Playing Fields Fund and undertook numerous fundraising events to raise money to purchase land in Lowdham for adult playing fields. 

In 1934 the Parish Council decided that the time had come to purchase land for a Playing Field due to the ‘immense amount of traffic’ on Main Street making it too dangerous for children to play on.

During the late 1930s the A6097 Lowdham By-Pass was built which split the ‘Big Field’ in half.

Sadly, purchasing of land was thwarted in 1939 due to the outbreak of War.  It wasn’t until September 1944 that the Parish Council once again pursued the idea of Playing Fields.  By 1945 the idea of having a Village Hall was also added into the equation.  This proposal was put to parishioners at that year’s Annual Parish Meeting.  Parishioners agreed with the proposal and a sub-committee was formed consisting of 5 parishioners and 2 Parish Councillors.  The sub-committee was tasked with finding suitable land for a Playing Field and Village Hall and investigating the costs and processes involved in purchasing it.

In 1946 land was purchased on Main Street for a Village Hall and Playground.  Initial plans also show a netball court, 3 tennis courts, Bowling Green and Memorial gardens.  A General committee was formed to act as a management committee for the upkeep and maintenance of the facilities.  This consisted of a representative from each of the 31 village organisations at that time and this is what is now known as Lowdham Village Hall & Playing Fields Committee. 

The village was fortunate in being awarded a temporary Village Hall by the National Council of Social Service in 1948.  There was no cost to the village for construction and materials.  The only expenses were certain legal and architects fees.  The idea was that the temporary Hall would provide a much needed facility for the village which could be used while parishioners continued to raise funds for a more permanent larger structure.  The village rented the building for an initial period of 3 years.

In 1949 approximately 5 acres of land was purchased between the Cocker Beck and A6097 (part of the ‘Big Field’) for an adult Playing Field for Hockey, Cricket and Football.  Unfortunately, the owners of the ‘Big Field’ did not wish to sell the piece of land at the Southwell Road end so the village rented this section initially.

Fundraising efforts continued in the village, but the ‘temporary’ Hall was still in existence in 1958 when residents decided to purchase the Hall outright. 

In 1976 the village was finally able to purchase the remaining 2.49 acres of land at the Southwell Road end of the Playing Field.

It wasn’t until 1981, following further fundraising efforts, that a larger permanent Village Hall was finally built (this is the Hall which you see today).  The new Hall was officially opened on Saturday 31 October 1981 by Chairman of Newark & Sherwood District Council, Mrs Jean Newberry.

Photos © Ray Parkinson