The Recreation Ground taken from the South end of the Church Alley.

The photo on the left shows the Walter Gidney Pavilion and the Recreation Ground which stands at the West end of the Church was once the grounds to Soham Place, a large Mansion complex. There had been a Mansion house here since at least 1656, when it was owned by Mr Richard Pechie. In 1925 The Place ceased to be a private residence and the area, 11 acres in total, was sold of by public auction, the Mansion House and grounds being bought by a private firm who subsequently divided the outside of the grounds, that are boarded by Fountain Lane on the North, Gardeners Lane on the West and Clay St on the South, into building plots. They had begun to demolish the House in 1928, when the Parish Council stepped in and bought the remaining land and what remained of the house, which was just the bottom storey. The remaining part of the house was turned into a Pavilion, and is today known as The Walter Gidney Pavilion, and the grounds into the recreation ground. This was opened to the Public on Whit Monday 1929, the ceremony being performed by Lady St David's. Today the Pavilion houses the Town Council and hosts many Town Functions, such as The Pumpkin Fair & Soham Carnival, just two of the major events held there. 

The photo on the left shows a view of the Recreation ground taken from the West side of the Churchyard. The photo on the right shows an image of the Recreation play area in the 1940 / 50's, it shows the witches hat the slide, swings and roundabout, note the seat around the big tree on the left.