The
meadow area on which the showground was laid out gained the name of Springfield from the vernacular
hydronymy. The land borders Le Grand Douet and Rouge Bouillon (modern
Jèrriais spelling: Rouoge Bouoillon: red spring) and floods regularly. Significant flooding was recorded in 1881, 1977 and 1980. The
Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society was founded in 1833 and had held its
Jersey cattle shows at various venues until its jubilee in 1883, when it was decided to acquire a ground of its own for the holding of exhibitions and the examination of cattle for registration. Seven sites in Saint Helier were considered and out of these Springfield was chosen on 10 September 1884. The site at that time covered five
vergées and comprised gardens and two cottages. The RJA&HS purchased the property from Tom Charles Le Gros on 6 December 1884 for the sum of £1,384 11s 10d. Between the initial purchase and 1939 the RJA&HS acquired adjacent properties to expand the site. In 1904, adjacent land used by the Caesarean Archery, Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club since the 1860s was acquired from the Rector of Saint Helier – evidence of early use of the site for sporting activities. The RJA&HS constructed the first hall on the site in 1888. Springfield became the venue for agricultural shows, as well as hosting social and sporting events, including the
Battle of Flowers. The Royal Jersey Militia used the ground as a parade ground from the early 20th century, and the hall was taken over by the military at the outbreak of the
First World War. was notable for an incident when a member of the audience, Peter Smith, threw a tomato at the band as a protest against their attitude when appearing on
Juke Box Jury. Mick Jagger stopped the band playing and challenged the tomato thrower to face him. In 1969 the RJA&HS moved their offices to a new building on the Springfield site. On 30 November 1971 a record crowd of more than 11,100 spectators packed into Springfield to watch a match involving
Manchester United. In 1993 the RJA&HS proposed the sale of the site, now totalling 12 vergées in area, to La Pouclée Farm Developments, a company that planned to build housing on the site. The Sport, Leisure and Recreation Committee of the States of Jersey took action to preserve the facility for sport and leisure use and proposed that the property be acquired by the public. ==Modern use==