THEN: The historic Cinderella Ground off Bransford Road, St John’s, Worcester, in 2017 when a Worcester News report referred to it as a “wrecked landscape”.

(Image: Newsquest) The sports ground had known much more salubrious times and was the original home of Worcestershire County Cricket Club during the late 19th century, hosting the legendary WG Grace in 1870.

Though the County eventually moved to New Road, the venue would continue to be an important sporting venue, especially for football, cricket, bowls and tennis.

It was the well-maintained sports and social club for the Cinderella shoe factory and then another major employer in Kays.

But the ground was left unused when Kays closed in 2007.

The original ornate sports pavilion deteriorated into a crumbling state until it was dismantled and moved to Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings, near Bromsgrove, in 2019.

NOW: The Cinderella Ground in 2024 with the ground regularly used for sport and subleased by King’s School Worcester.

(Image: Google Street View) While houses were built around it, Worcester City Council leased the ground from developers Arndale in 2015.

After considerable improvement it eventually became a cricket venue again for clubs from 2020 with a new pavilion and King’s moved in last year with plans for rugby and football at the venue as well.