Lamb's Conduit Field
Encyclopedia
Lamb's Conduit Field was an open area of Holborn
, London, that was used for major cricket matches in the first half of the 18th century.
in the London Borough of Camden
. Coram's Field is situated on the former site of the Foundling Hospital
, established by Thomas Coram in what was then named Lamb's Conduit Field in 1739. It is not to be confused with White Conduit Fields
, in Islington
, which was another venue of 18th century cricket. It is believed that Lamb's Conduit Field ceased to be a cricket venue when construction of the Foundling Hospital was approved in or before 1739.
matches on 4 occasions between 1707 and 1736; and for one minor match. It is probable that records of many matches from the period have been lost and so its usage could have been considerably greater.
The first match known to have been played there was on Thursday 26 June 1707 when London met Mitcham Cricket Club
. The result and other details are unknown. This match was unknown until 2009 when a record of it was discovered in an archive and reported to CricketArchive. It is the earliest known match in Middlesex
and the earliest definitely known fixture in London.
London v Mitcham is also probably the earliest mention of the original London Cricket Club
. Teams called London played several matches in the first quarter of the 18th century but there is no actual mention of a "London Club" until 1722. It is not known when the club, as distinct from a London team, was founded.
A second match took place a week later on Thursday 3 July 1707 when London played a return match against Croydon Cricket Club
. Again, the result and other details are unknown. There was confusion about the date of this match as Waghorn recorded that it took place "on the Tuesday (sic) following, being the 3rd of July" (the previous match in Croydon having been definitely recorded on Tuesday 1 July). From Lads to Lord's corrected this ambiguity in favour of the date (i.e., Thursday 3 July) and its advice was followed by CricketArchive.
There is a gap of over twenty years before the venue recurs in the cricket records. It was used in 1731 for a minor match which London played against an Enfield team and was then used twice in 1736 for London v Surrey
and Middlesex
v Surrey. By this time, the London club was using the Artillery Ground
as its primary venue and the construction of the Foundling Hospital probably ended its interest in Lamb's Conduit Field.
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
, London, that was used for major cricket matches in the first half of the 18th century.
Location
Its location was partly that now called Coram's FieldsCoram's Fields
Coram's Fields is a large urban open space in the London borough of Camden in central London, England. It occupies seven acres in Bloomsbury and includes a children's playground, sand pits, a duck pond, a pets corner, café and nursery...
in the London Borough of Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
. Coram's Field is situated on the former site of the Foundling Hospital
Foundling Hospital
The Foundling Hospital in London, England was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply...
, established by Thomas Coram in what was then named Lamb's Conduit Field in 1739. It is not to be confused with White Conduit Fields
White Conduit Fields
White Conduit Fields in Islington was an early venue of major cricket matches and the original home of the White Conduit Club, forerunner of MCC...
, in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, which was another venue of 18th century cricket. It is believed that Lamb's Conduit Field ceased to be a cricket venue when construction of the Foundling Hospital was approved in or before 1739.
First-class cricket venue
Lamb's Conduit Field is known to have been used for first-class cricketFirst-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
matches on 4 occasions between 1707 and 1736; and for one minor match. It is probable that records of many matches from the period have been lost and so its usage could have been considerably greater.
The first match known to have been played there was on Thursday 26 June 1707 when London met Mitcham Cricket Club
Mitcham Cricket Club
]Mitcham Cricket Club is reported by The Independent to be the oldest cricket club in existence, with the club having been playing cricket on Mitcham Cricket Green since 1685. Mitcham club were also reportedly watched by Lord Nelson during his time in the area...
. The result and other details are unknown. This match was unknown until 2009 when a record of it was discovered in an archive and reported to CricketArchive. It is the earliest known match in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
and the earliest definitely known fixture in London.
London v Mitcham is also probably the earliest mention of the original London Cricket Club
London Cricket Club
The original London Cricket Club was formed by 1722 and was one of the foremost clubs in English cricket over the next four decades. It is closely associated with the Artillery Ground, where it played most of its home matches.-Early history of London cricket:...
. Teams called London played several matches in the first quarter of the 18th century but there is no actual mention of a "London Club" until 1722. It is not known when the club, as distinct from a London team, was founded.
A second match took place a week later on Thursday 3 July 1707 when London played a return match against Croydon Cricket Club
Croydon Cricket Club
The original Croydon Cricket Club was one of the oldest in England with origins going back to the early 18th century and perhaps earlier. It played most of its matches at Duppas Hill. The earliest record of the club is in the 1707 season when it played two matches against London Cricket...
. Again, the result and other details are unknown. There was confusion about the date of this match as Waghorn recorded that it took place "on the Tuesday (sic) following, being the 3rd of July" (the previous match in Croydon having been definitely recorded on Tuesday 1 July). From Lads to Lord's corrected this ambiguity in favour of the date (i.e., Thursday 3 July) and its advice was followed by CricketArchive.
There is a gap of over twenty years before the venue recurs in the cricket records. It was used in 1731 for a minor match which London played against an Enfield team and was then used twice in 1736 for London v Surrey
Surrey county cricket teams
Surrey county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. The first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford.-17th century:...
and Middlesex
Middlesex county cricket teams
Middlesex county cricket teams have been traced back to the 18th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. Given that the first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford, it is almost certain that the game had reached...
v Surrey. By this time, the London club was using the Artillery Ground
Artillery Ground
The Artillery Ground in Finsbury is one of London's most centrally located cricket grounds, situated just off the City Road immediately north of the City of London...
as its primary venue and the construction of the Foundling Hospital probably ended its interest in Lamb's Conduit Field.