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Recreation and Leisure
Parks and grounds
Field sports
Outdoor games
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main image Women's rugby match, playing fields, North Berwick, East Lothian
During the second half of the 19th century, a widespread interest in team sports, especially rugby and football, but also cricket, led to land around towns being used as playing fields.

The grandest of these also had grandstands. In lesser settlements grass fields – grazed at other times by cattle or sheep – were put to use. Other peri-urban lands became public parks or showgrounds.

The 19th century interest in team sports coincided with the period when Scotland's railway network was at its most extensive. This enabled both players and spectators to travel to diverse and distant venues and back within a day.


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