Did you know (I didn’t) that Spiceball Park we all know it today isn’t actually the original Spiceball Park?
I love random obscure facts like this – almost always found while looking for something else. This particular nugget, I found while on the Banbury Town Council website — and it absolutely delighted me.
So, the original Spiceball Park was – is? – was Bridge Street Park!
When the larger country park was created further north, the name migrated… and the old site got a new name.
And the name Spiceball itself? Even MORE delightful.
Again, according to the Banbury Town Council website, the land was donated by High Street butcher Thomas Hankinson, who was town mayor at the time. He was notable for making highly seasoned meatballs — known around town as “spice balls.”
The nickname stuck, and eventually it became the name of the land and the park.
Absolutely fabulous.
Also, now feeling a bit peckish.
And this? This is a photo of Modern Parlance Photos taking a photo of the riders on the ramps in Spiceball. I wonder if any of them know about the meatballs…
