Lansdown Cricket Club
Encyclopedia
Lansdown Cricket Club, formed in 1825, is recognised as the earliest official organised cricket club in Somerset
. Originally based in Lansdown, since 1869 the club has been based at Combe Park, Bath, adjacent to the Royal United Hospital
.
but at a little-used racecourse nearer the city, adjacent to Beckford's Tower
.
Around 1850, Lansdown moved to Captain Thornhill's Sydenham Field, which was on the south bank of the river Avon in the area later built on by the Midland Railway line
that ran into Bath Green Park railway station
.
In these early years, arranging matches was a problem as there was a lack of other established clubs of good reputation to play. Trips to Devon, to take on Sidmouth and Teignmouth, and up to Bristol to play Clifton were much the extent of their calendar. During this time, selection was based as much on social status as on talent, and the club was even dubbed by someone as 'the MCC of the West'.
and the MCC
. In 1852, they played host at Sydenham Field to an All-England Eleven
, Lansdown fielded 22 men and, after three days, the match finished a draw. W. G. Grace
made his debut for Lansdown on 5 July 1861, just short of his thirteenth birthday, and played two matches during that month. A few years later, in 1865 when Lansdown entertained United England Eleven
, their side contained three of the Grace brothers, with E.M. and Henry Grace also playing. Between the three of them, they took all of the England side's wickets in the match as Lansdown won by an innings and 113 runs. In 1869, the club moved to Combe Park, where it has played ever since.
opener Tom Young
spent some time at the club in 1910, and the brothers Jack
and Frank Lee
played for the club while qualifying for Somerset in the 1920s. In the postwar years, the mainstay of the batting for many years was Les Angell
, whose prolific scoring for Lansdown masked a more modest record in first-class cricket for Somerset. Almost overlapping with Angell, in 1973, Viv Richards similarly turned out for the side while he served his qualification period for Somerset. During his time at the club he not only entertained the crowd with his runs, but also cut the grass for the club.
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. Originally based in Lansdown, since 1869 the club has been based at Combe Park, Bath, adjacent to the Royal United Hospital
Royal United Hospital
The Royal United Hospital is a major acute hospital, located in the Weston suburb of Bath, England, which lies approximately miles west of the Bath city centre. The hospital currently has 565 beds and occupies a site...
.
Foundation
Cricket was relatively slow to come to Somerset, but by the early 19th century it was being played in a haphazard fashion, mainly on gentlemen's country-house grounds. Lansdown was preceded by an up-market Bath club that played from about 1817–1824, and many of that club's enthusiasts went on to become part of Lansdown. Formed in 1825, Lansdown played originally at a ground known either as "Cricket Down" or as the "Racecourse ground" on the summit of the hill called Lansdown to the north of Bath: the ground was not at the site of the current Bath RacecourseBath Racecourse
Bath Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Bath, Somerset.The racecourse is a left-handed oval track of 1 mile 4 furlongs and 25 yards, with a run-in of nearly half-a-mile....
but at a little-used racecourse nearer the city, adjacent to Beckford's Tower
Beckford's Tower
Beckford's Tower, originally known as Lansdown Tower, is an architectural folly built in neo-classical style on Lansdown Hill, just outside Bath, Somerset, England....
.
Around 1850, Lansdown moved to Captain Thornhill's Sydenham Field, which was on the south bank of the river Avon in the area later built on by the Midland Railway line
Mangotsfield and Bath Branch Line
The Mangotsfield and Bath Branch Line opened in 1869 to connect Bath to the Midland Railway network at Mangotsfield, on the former Bristol and Gloucester Railway....
that ran into Bath Green Park railway station
Bath Green Park railway station
Green Park railway station is a former railway station in Bath, Somerset, England. For some of its life, it was known as Bath Queen Square.-Architecture and opening:...
.
In these early years, arranging matches was a problem as there was a lack of other established clubs of good reputation to play. Trips to Devon, to take on Sidmouth and Teignmouth, and up to Bristol to play Clifton were much the extent of their calendar. During this time, selection was based as much on social status as on talent, and the club was even dubbed by someone as 'the MCC of the West'.
Early recognition
As the years passed, Lansdown's reputation grew, and their opposition similarly grew in reputation, as they entertained Oxford UniversityOxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
and the MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
. In 1852, they played host at Sydenham Field to an All-England Eleven
All-England Eleven
In cricket, the term All-England has been used for various non-international teams that have been formed for short-term purposes since the 1739 English cricket season and it indicates that the "Rest of England" is playing against, say, MCC or an individual county team...
, Lansdown fielded 22 men and, after three days, the match finished a draw. W. G. Grace
W. G. Grace
William Gilbert Grace, MRCS, LRCP was an English amateur cricketer who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time, having a special significance in terms of his importance to the development of the sport...
made his debut for Lansdown on 5 July 1861, just short of his thirteenth birthday, and played two matches during that month. A few years later, in 1865 when Lansdown entertained United England Eleven
United All-England Eleven
The United All-England Eleven was an English cricket team formed in 1852 by players breaking away from William Clarke's All-England Eleven . Key UEE players included John Wisden and Jemmy Dean, who became joint secretaries of the team....
, their side contained three of the Grace brothers, with E.M. and Henry Grace also playing. Between the three of them, they took all of the England side's wickets in the match as Lansdown won by an innings and 113 runs. In 1869, the club moved to Combe Park, where it has played ever since.
Nurturing ground
Lansdown has had a number of talented professionals through the years. The SomersetSomerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
opener Tom Young
Tom Young (cricketer)
Archibald Young, known as "Tom", was a professional first-class cricket player who appeared for Somerset in more than 300 matches. Though a regular cricketer for a dozen years, he was frequently in poor health because of damage to his lungs during the First World War and he died at the age of 45,...
spent some time at the club in 1910, and the brothers Jack
Jack Lee (cricketer)
John William Lee , generally known as Jack Lee, was an English cricketer who played for Somerset from 1925 to 1936, having played one match for Middlesex in 1923. He was an all-rounder, scoring six centuries and taking ten wickets in a match on two occasions by the end of his career...
and Frank Lee
Frank Lee (cricketer)
Frank Stanley Lee, born at St. John's Wood on July 24, 1905 and died in Westminster on March 30, 1982 was an English first-class cricketer and an umpire who officiated in Test matches....
played for the club while qualifying for Somerset in the 1920s. In the postwar years, the mainstay of the batting for many years was Les Angell
Les Angell
Frederick Leslie Angell, born 29 June 1922, at Norton St Philip, Somerset, is a former English first-class cricketer who played for Somerset County Cricket Club....
, whose prolific scoring for Lansdown masked a more modest record in first-class cricket for Somerset. Almost overlapping with Angell, in 1973, Viv Richards similarly turned out for the side while he served his qualification period for Somerset. During his time at the club he not only entertained the crowd with his runs, but also cut the grass for the club.