Raby Castle Cricket Club boasts one of the most picturesque grounds in the country, if not the world.
Situated on a beautiful site overlooked by the stunning medieval castle, the venue looks as pretty as a picture.
And now the ground will feature an impressive new pavilion if plans submitted to Durham County Council are passed.
Club secretary Steve Caygill said the opening date realistically might be the start of the Darlington and District League 2027 season, rather than next April.
He said: “There’s nothing agreed yet and we have to get a main contractor on board to oversee the whole project, so a more likely date would be towards the end of the season so that it’s ready for the following year.”
The planning application to demolish the outdated existing pavilion and build a replacement on the same site was submitted earlier this month. The building will feature home and away dressing rooms, separate showers and toilets, as well as disabled facilities and a room for the umpires.
According to the application, cricket is thought to have been played at Raby since the 18th century and the cricket club was formed in 1886, with the pavilion built around 1980.
It adds: “The pavilion… is now over 40 years old and in need of replacement to meet the ECB recommended standards for facilities.”
