ONE of Dorset’s oldest cricket clubs is to build a swish new twin-winged pavilion – after managing for years with a semi-dilapidated pavilion.

The Compton House Cricket Club, based at Compton Park, Sherborne, says the new building will help provide the club with a secure future and offer a venue for private functions.

The club site is to the northern side of Babylon Hill between Over Compton and Nether Compton, close to the former butterfly farm on the road between Sherborne and Yeovil.

It was founded in 1869 with a pavilion built in 1880 which doubled up initially also as a shepherd’s hut and was then used as a Home Guard post during the Second World War.

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Although the pavilion is now considered no longer repairable for its original use the club intends to keep the building for its historic importance and extra storage.

The new Pavilion, with two wings in a shallow V, will have three separate changing areas, toilets and showers, an entrance lobby where awards and club memorabilia can be displayed, a first floor balcony, integral bar and kitchen, scoreboard and clock and a large function room which will be available for private hire, including wedding receptions.

Said a planning brief for the building from Dorchester-based Fisher Design Studio: “The proposals have received great praise by all who have viewed the drawing package within the cricket club and it has been raved how this will be the answer to the ever growing needs which the existing structures on site can just not fulfil anymore.

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“The proposal will be vastly beneficial not only to the club itself but to the surrounding local area and also visitors from afar that travel to attend Compton House Cricket Club.

“The existing building onsite are in major disrepair and unfortunately pushing the club into a situation where they are struggling to function as they once would, or bring in the funding that they desperately need to keep this historic club running. The club has received many great awards and acknowledgements over the years, and this does not want to be lost due to the lack of safe and secure usable facilities that the club so greatly needs.”

Compton boasts a successful first eleven and midweek side with several age-based youth teams, including a girl’s team.