Work to pause for ancient ball game to take place
The ball game will take place in 2025 despite ongoing work
- Published
Work in a town centre in Derbyshire will take a break to allow an ancient football game to take place.
This year the ongoing Ashbourne Reborn project clashes with Royal Shrovetide Football, which has taken place throughout the town every Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday since at least 1667.
Public realm works in Dig Street and Buxton Hill will stop on Friday 28 February to make way for thousands of players to descend.
After the two teams - the Up'Ards and the Down'Ards - have competed to push the decorated ball towards opposite ends of the town, work will resume on Monday 10 March.
St John Street will then close to traffic with diversions in place.
The £15.9m Ashbourne Reborn project, by Derbyshire Dales District and Derbyshire County councils, aims to improve the pedestrian experience in the town with wider pavements and upgraded crossings.
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