On 15 October 1881, an athletic event officially opened Lancaster Park. A cricket match had been the original idea five days earlier but rain forced a cancellation.
With the formation of the Canterbury Cricket and Athletics Sports Company Limited in 1880, land began to be sourced for a sports area and where a club house could be built. The land was brought off Benjamin Lancaster. The Park was named in his honour.
For a more in depth look at Lancaster Park, check out the following link: http://www.peelingbackhistory.co.nz/lancaster-park/
*image courtesy of the Alexander Turnbull Library – Football crowd at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. Webb, Steffano, 1880?-1967 : Collection of negatives. Ref: 1/1-005056-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22323978
