The ground was constructed as a result of the efforts of G.J.

Poole, the headmaster of a local Grammar School.

[1][2] Constructed by 1899, the Hampshire Second XI played there in the ground's first recorded match in that year,[3] while Hampshire later played one first-class match at the ground, against the touring South Africans in 1904.

[4] The match ended in a South African victory by innings and 19 runs, during which South African batsman Louis Tancred was dismissed for 99 by Hesketh Hesketh-Prichard, while in Hampshire's first-innings Johannes Kotze took a five wicket haul with figures of 5 for 66.

[5] Whilst the ground still exists, it is instead used as a venue for rugby union matches.