Lambridge Training Ground.
Lambridge
By shipwrecked
July 25 2021
A name that often crops up in discussion is the Lambridge Training ground, many will know its history and be well aware of its current use, but for those non-residents of Bath here is a brief guide.
Where and what is Lambridge?
Lambridge Training ground is a Bath Rugby Club facility at:
London Road, Batheaston ,Bath, BA1 6BD.
It is situated to the North and a little to the East of the City itself at the bottom of the A46 which connects to the M4
Does the club own it?
Lambridge has had a rugby connection for a long time, seen here being used by Walcot Rugby Football Club in Training at the Lambridge Training Ground Bath c.1963 (Source) "Bath in Time".
Lambridge training ground was bought for £400,000 by one of Bruce Craig's companies and was announced on the Bath Rugby Official site (‘The Offy”) on the 21 March 2012 by Nick Blofeld, the then chief executive of Bath Rugby. Previously the club had leased it from the previous owners, Bath Football Club Trustees Ltd "BFCTL" since 1997.
It was bought with the intention of being used by the Amateur Bath Youth and Women's Teams for training and playing purposes. The recent announcement of the club’s commitment to the growth and sustainability of women and girls’ rugby in the region over the next 3 years was made on May 26th of this year. It took a while but that box is now ticked.
As a result of a settlement Bath RFC (previously Bath Youth Rugby) received £300,000 from BFCTL and was formed for the particular purpose of running amateur, mini, youth and ladies teams in Bath Rugby Colours. Bath RFC is a Community Amateur Sports Club with its own constitution and is run by a separate Board of Directors but has strong links with Bath Rugby Ltd.
Who uses Lambridge at the moment?
Well clearly Bath Rugby Ladies: a new season is just around the corner and they are committed to pre-season training commencing 1st July 2021, 18:45 – 20:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you know of anyone who might be interested in developing new skills, working on fitness levels or current players should get in touch.
Other rugby users of Lambridge are Bath Saracens who play at
Sulis Sports Club, Bath, BA2 7AU but also use Lambridge as a training facility.
Bath Saracens are an amateur rugby club competing in the Dorset & Wilts 2 North they have existed for a long time, being formed on 13th March 1947, Bath Saracens are still going strong 70 years later.
How to get to Lambridge and What is there?
By public transport, Bus: 271, 272 or the X31.
Lambridge has 2 full grass pitches and is situated on London Road it has 20 car parking spaces. It has disabled facilities and floodlights. The current facilities are adequate for its current use but little more than that.
Could Bath relocate from the Recreation Ground to Lambridge?
There has been more than one suggestion that the new Bath rugby stadium should be built at Lambridge. It is however highly unlikely that such a move would be feasible. The ground is nearly 2 miles walk from Bath Spa railway station and the infrastructure is basically unsuitable with limited parking and space for bus drop off being an obvious issue. Lambridge is in a residential area and applications for planning permission would encounter many obstacles – transport access and risk of increased congestion, environmental concern for the nearby Bathampton water meadows, engineering and drainage practicalities and local resident opposition.
A quick look at the aerial view shows some of the practical difficulties and fitting a stadium for 18,000 at that location isn’t at all obvious. There are considerable practical difficulties of building at that location with the Lamb brook and the river Avon complicating any sort of construction. The current site can be developed, within its existing footprint to provide improved facilities and a limited amount of spectator seating, sufficient for youth matches and training, but not for a Premiership stadium.
A training ground, with potential for use for junior club fixtures seems the most likely use of Lambridge for the foreseeable future.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:08:09:10:38:04 by P G Tips.
As he says, the aerial view gives an at-a-glance insight into why stadium development at that site is a non-starter. meanwhile, Bath Rugby have a long term lease on an existing site which brings visitors and income into the city.
PG
.
Wasn't there a proposal for Tescos to buy the land for what seemed like silly money back in the late 70s so the club could build a stadium somewhere but it was flooding risk that scuppered the deal. Or have I imagined that?
Additional piece of history. Ronnie Lane (of the Small Faces & Faces fame) and his band Slim Chance went on what was known as the Passing Show tour; in essence they drove around on a bus and erected tents much like a circus and played.
I recall seeing them at Lambridge in May 1974. Audience numbers were around 100. (It is vivid in my memory due to a tall blonde young lady standing up a few rows in front and dancing topless. That left quite an impression on a 17 year old.)
Quote:Disunited
Really interesting article. Thanks all.
Additional piece of history. Ronnie Lane (of the Small Faces & Faces fame) and his band Slim Chance went on what was known as the Passing Show tour; in essence they drove around on a bus and erected tents much like a circus and played.
I recall seeing them at Lambridge in May 1974. Audience numbers were around 100. (It is vivid in my memory due to a tall blonde young lady standing up a few rows in front and dancing topless. That left quite an impression on a 17 year old.)
Quote:Mike the Taxi
A 17-year-old at a gig with a camera? In 1974?
There are plenty of Woodstock pics around Mike!
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]