London Cricket Club
Encyclopedia
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.
in the 16th century and there can be little doubt that the game had reached London
by that time. Even so, there is no written reference to the game in London until 1680.
A publication called The Post Man reported from 21 June 1707 to 24 June 1707 that two great matches at cricket (to be) plaid (sic), between London and Croydon; the first at Croydon on Tuesday, July 1st, and the other to be plaid in Lamb's-Conduit-Fields, near Holborn, on the Tuesday (sic) following, being the 3rd of July. No match reports could be found so the results and scores are unknown (note that 3 July in 1707 was a Thursday).
The 1707 London team may have been just an occasional XI as the foundation date of London Cricket Club is unknown. But it was in existence by 1722 when it was referred to as such re a game versus Dartford
.
in London
. This gentlemen's club was multi-functional, though essentially of a social and sporting nature, but its purpose was to encourage and enable gambling. For example, its members also founded the Jockey Club
and were usually involved with organising big prizefighting events. Cricket throughout the 18th century was funded by gambling interests and attracted huge stakes.
Gambling has always had its unsavoury side and eventually the Artillery Ground became a place of ill-repute. The club members became uneasy about associating with a place that was widely known for licentious and, occasionally, riotous behaviour, even though it showcased cricket of the highest class. Cricket was severely impacted by the Seven Years War from 1756 to 1763 and the number of matches played greatly reduced. There are signs of the game returning to its rural roots during this period and evidently the aristocrats were happy with that development. Apart from four matches in the 1769 English cricket season
, there are few mentions of London as a team in the aftermath of the Seven Years War and many of the references suggest that these teams were in fact occasional "London XIs" rather than representing an organised London club.
The Artillery Ground itself began to be used less and less after 1763. A match on 15 September 1778 is the last important one played there. Hambledon
was already by then the predominant centre of English cricket and a lot of games were being played at other outlying venues such as Laleham Burway
, Bishopsbourne Paddock
and Sevenoaks Vine
. London for the time being had been abandoned.
It is reasonable to assume that the London Cricket Club was disbanded during the Seven Years War. With its demise and the war situation, the "honourable gentlemen" retreated to the countryside and founded or at least augmented the Hambledon Club
, which was the main centre of cricket from about 1765 for the next twenty years.
In the early 1780s, the gentlemen decided to re-establish themselves in the vicinity of London and founded the White Conduit Club
in Islington
. But they were not happy about the environment of White Conduit Fields
and commissioned Thomas Lord
to find a "more private venue". He opened Lord's Old Ground
in 1787 in Marylebone
. The gentlemen moved their cricketing interests there and reinvented themselves as Marylebone Cricket Club
(MCC), which is thus a direct continuation of the old London Cricket Club.
but it increasingly began to use the Artillery Ground from 1730.
The 1730s were the glory days of London Cricket Club and it completely dominated the cricket scene, especially given its royal and aristocratic patronage. One of the earliest good players mentioned is "the famous Tim Coleman" who was referred as such in 1731 when it was rare to see any player named in the newspapers.
London's main opponents in the 1730s were Croydon
and Dartford
. They played matches against various other parish clubs and sometimes took on county sides, mainly Kent
, Surrey
and Sussex. There is sometimes confusion in the reports when London is identified with Middlesex
and vice-versa but, in general, London means the club and Middlesex was a team of players born in the county who were not necessarily of the London club.
The club's best season may have been the 1732 season
when it was unbeaten. As a report recounts after the final match: This is the thirteenth match the London gamesters have played this year and not lost one match.
As the 1730s progressed, London continued to be generally successful. From time to time, challengers appeared. Chertsey Cricket Club
first made its mark in the 1736 season
and London also had some tight contests against Chislehurst in the late 1730s.
But the biggest challenge to London's dominance emerged in the 1741 season
. This was Slindon
which starred the great all-rounder Richard Newland
and was backed by the Duke of Richmond
. After Slindon beat Surrey "almost in one innings" at the end of that season, it was inevitable they would come to the Artillery Ground and play London. This happened in 1742 when two matches were played against a background of furious gambling with huge wagers being laid against Newland's expected performance. London prevailed, winning the first match "with great difficulty" and then, having been assisted by the weather, thrashing Slindon by 184 runs in the second.
It was London's turn to be thrashed in 1743 when they played another of the "great little clubs": Addington Cricket Club
who, on their first appearance at the Artillery Ground, easily won by an innings and 4 runs. Addington did have the great player Robert Colchin
as a given man.
In 1744, Slindon were back and in June they beat London by 55 runs in a match whose scores have been preserved by the earliest known cricket scorecard. Slindon beat London again in September and proceeded to issue their audacious challenge to play against any parish in England. London did not take up the challenge: only Addington and Bromley
felt able to respond.
There was a noticeable increase in the popularity of single wicket contests in the late 1740s although the London club often arranged these at the Artillery Ground. In the eleven a side game, county matches or games involving "best elevens" were the norm and, as the 1750s began, London was really playing parish matches only unless it had several given men.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
over the next four decades. It is closely associated with 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...
, where it played most of its home matches.
Early history of London cricket
The earliest definite mention of cricket being played anywhere is at GuildfordGuildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
in the 16th century and there can be little doubt that the game had reached London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
by that time. Even so, there is no written reference to the game in London until 1680.
A publication called The Post Man reported from 21 June 1707 to 24 June 1707 that two great matches at cricket (to be) plaid (sic), between London and Croydon; the first at Croydon on Tuesday, July 1st, and the other to be plaid in Lamb's-Conduit-Fields, near Holborn, on the Tuesday (sic) following, being the 3rd of July. No match reports could be found so the results and scores are unknown (note that 3 July in 1707 was a Thursday).
The 1707 London team may have been just an occasional XI as the foundation date of London Cricket Club is unknown. But it was in existence by 1722 when it was referred to as such re a game versus Dartford
Dartford Cricket Club
Dartford Cricket Club is one of the oldest in England and its origins go back to the early 18th century, perhaps earlier.See also: Dartford Brent...
.
The Noblemen's and Gentlemen's Club
London Cricket Club was founded and organised by members of what is usually termed the Noblemen's and Gentlemen's Club, which had its headquarters at the Star and Garter on Pall MallPall Mall, London
Pall Mall is a street in the City of Westminster, London, and parallel to The Mall, from St. James's Street across Waterloo Place to the Haymarket; while Pall Mall East continues into Trafalgar Square. The street is a major thoroughfare in the St James's area of London, and a section of the...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. This gentlemen's club was multi-functional, though essentially of a social and sporting nature, but its purpose was to encourage and enable gambling. For example, its members also founded the Jockey Club
Jockey Club
The Jockey Club is the largest commercial organisation in British horseracing. Although no longer responsible for the governance and regulation of the sport, it owns 14 of Britain's famous racecourses, including Aintree, Cheltenham and Newmarket, amongst other concerns such as the National Stud and...
and were usually involved with organising big prizefighting events. Cricket throughout the 18th century was funded by gambling interests and attracted huge stakes.
Gambling has always had its unsavoury side and eventually the Artillery Ground became a place of ill-repute. The club members became uneasy about associating with a place that was widely known for licentious and, occasionally, riotous behaviour, even though it showcased cricket of the highest class. Cricket was severely impacted by the Seven Years War from 1756 to 1763 and the number of matches played greatly reduced. There are signs of the game returning to its rural roots during this period and evidently the aristocrats were happy with that development. Apart from four matches in the 1769 English cricket season
1769 English cricket season
The 1769 English cricket season was the last in which the original London Cricket Club and the Artillery Ground feature prominently in the records....
, there are few mentions of London as a team in the aftermath of the Seven Years War and many of the references suggest that these teams were in fact occasional "London XIs" rather than representing an organised London club.
The Artillery Ground itself began to be used less and less after 1763. A match on 15 September 1778 is the last important one played there. Hambledon
Hambledon Club
The Hambledon Club was a social club that is famous for its organisation of 18th century cricket matches. By the late 1770s it was the foremost cricket club in England.-Foundation:...
was already by then the predominant centre of English cricket and a lot of games were being played at other outlying venues such as Laleham Burway
Laleham Burway
Laleham Burway is a tract of meadow land on the River Thames near Chertsey in Surrey. Part of it was a famous major cricket venue in the 18th century and the home of Chertsey Cricket Club.-Earliest known matches:...
, Bishopsbourne Paddock
Bishopsbourne Paddock
Bishopsbourne Paddock was a cricket ground at Bourne House, seat of Sir Horatio Mann, near Canterbury in Kent. It was a popular venue for first-class matches from 1766 to 1790.-Matches:...
and Sevenoaks Vine
Vine Cricket Ground
The Vine Cricket Ground is one of the oldest cricket venues in England. It was given to the town of Sevenoaks in 1773 by John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset and owner of Knole House, where the ground is sited...
. London for the time being had been abandoned.
It is reasonable to assume that the London Cricket Club was disbanded during the Seven Years War. With its demise and the war situation, the "honourable gentlemen" retreated to the countryside and founded or at least augmented the Hambledon Club
Hambledon Club
The Hambledon Club was a social club that is famous for its organisation of 18th century cricket matches. By the late 1770s it was the foremost cricket club in England.-Foundation:...
, which was the main centre of cricket from about 1765 for the next twenty years.
In the early 1780s, the gentlemen decided to re-establish themselves in the vicinity of London and founded the White Conduit Club
White Conduit Club
The White Conduit Club, although short-lived, was perhaps the most significant club in cricket history for it bridged the gulf between the rural and rustic Hambledon era and the new, modern and metropolitan era of MCC and Lord's, the two entities that it spawned.We do not know for certain when the...
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...
. But they were not happy about the environment of 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...
and commissioned Thomas Lord
Thomas Lord
Thomas Lord was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1787 to 1802. He made a brief comeback, playing in one further match in 1815. Overall, Lord made 90 known appearances in first-class cricket...
to find a "more private venue". He opened Lord's Old Ground
Lord's Old Ground
Lord's Old Ground was a cricket venue in London that was established by Thomas Lord in 1787. It was used mainly by Marylebone Cricket Club for major cricket matches until 1810, after which a dispute about rent caused Lord to relocate.-Matches:...
in 1787 in Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
. The gentlemen moved their cricketing interests there and reinvented themselves as Marylebone Cricket Club
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...
(MCC), which is thus a direct continuation of the old London Cricket Club.
Players
Very little is known of London's players during its heyday from the 1720s to the 1760s. The following are the names that have been recorded by the season in which they are first mentioned in the sources.- 1726 – Perry (took part in the earliest known single wicketSingle WicketSingle wicket cricket is a form of cricket played between two individuals, who take turns to bat and bowl against each other. The one bowling is assisted by a team of fielders, who remain as fielders at the change of innings. The winner is the one who scores more runs...
match) - 1731 – "the famous" Tim ColemanTim Coleman (cricketer)Tim Coleman was an early English cricketer who played for London Cricket Club and Surrey during the 1720s and 1730s.-Career:Coleman is one of the earliest cricketers whose name has survived in contemporary records...
- 1732 – Christopher Jones (Artillery Ground keeper)
- 1735 – CookCook (Brentford cricketer)Cook was an English professional cricketer from Brentford who played in major matches for Middlesex during the 1730s. He was "reckoned one of the best bowlers in England".-Career:Cook is mentioned in 1735 re two matches at Moulsey Hurst...
, DunnDunn (London cricketer)Dunn was an English cricketer who played for London Cricket Club in major matches during the 1730s. He was evidently a top order batsman.-Career:Dunn is mentioned in 1735 re two matches and in 1739 re one other...
, EllisEllis (London cricketer)Ellis was an English cricketer who played for London Cricket Club in major matches during the 1730s. He was described in a contemporary report as London's "best bowler".-Career:...
(London's "best bowler"), Marshall, Pool, WakelandWakeland (London cricketer)Wakeland was an English cricketer who played in major matches for London Cricket Club during the 1730s.-Career:...
, WheatleyWheatley (London cricketer)Wheatley was an English amateur cricketer who played in major matches for London Cricket Club during the 1730s and was evidently a top order batsman... - 1736 – George OldnerGeorge OldnerGeorge Oldner was an English cricketer who played in major matches for London Cricket Club during the 1730s.-Career:In June 1736, George Oldner and Wakeland played in a single wicket match for London against two "famous" Richmond players who are "esteemed the best two in England".As Oldner had...
- 1739 – John BowraJohn BowraJohn Bowra was an English professional cricketer of the mid-Georgian period who made 5 known appearances in first-class cricket.-Career:John Bowra has been identified as "Mr...
- 1744 – "Little" BennettBennett (London cricketer)"Little" Bennett was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket for London Cricket Club in the 1740s and 1750s. He was almost certainly the brother of the player known as Tall Bennett...
, "Tall" BennettBennett (London cricketer)"Little" Bennett was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket for London Cricket Club in the 1740s and 1750s. He was almost certainly the brother of the player known as Tall Bennett...
, George SmithGeorge Smith (cricketer)George Smith was an English cricketer and also the "keeper" of the Artillery Ground, which was cricket's main venue in London during the mid-Georgian period....
(Artillery Ground keeper), Butler, Hodder, HowlettHowlett (London cricketer)Howlett was an English cricketer who played for London Cricket Club during the 1740s.-Career:Howlett is mentioned in 1744 and 1745. On Saturday, 2 June 1744, he played for London against Slindon in the earliest match that has a surviving scorecard...
, NorrisNorris (London cricketer)Norris was an English cricketer who played for London Cricket Club during the 1740s.-Career:Norris is mentioned in 1744 and 1745. On Saturday, 2 June 1744, he played for London against Slindon in the earliest match that has a surviving scorecard... - 1745 – William AndersonWilliam Anderson (cricketer)William Anderson was a noted English cricketer of the mid-18th century who was principally associated with the famous London Cricket Club....
, Norton - 1747 – Thomas JureThomas JureThomas Jure was a noted English cricketer of the mid-18th century who played for the famous London Cricket Club and also for All-England....
- 1748 – George Carter, John CaponJohn Capon (cricketer)John Capon was an English professional cricketer who played for London Cricket Club and Surrey during the 1740s and 1750s. He was a noted single wicket performer...
, Walker - 1750 – PerryPerry (Surrey cricketer)Perry was an English cricketer who played for Surrey during the 1750s. He was possibly related to the player called Perry who, in 1726, took part with Piper of Hampton in the earliest known single wicket contest.-Career:...
- 1753 – William KingWilliam King (London cricketer)William King was an English cricketer who played in the 1750s. He was noted by a contemporary source as one of the best players in England at the time.-Career:...
- 1755 – Clowder
- 1759 – Gascoigne
Matches
In the 1720s, the London club seemed to share its time between Kennington Common and White Conduit FieldsWhite 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...
but it increasingly began to use the Artillery Ground from 1730.
The 1730s were the glory days of London Cricket Club and it completely dominated the cricket scene, especially given its royal and aristocratic patronage. One of the earliest good players mentioned is "the famous Tim Coleman" who was referred as such in 1731 when it was rare to see any player named in the newspapers.
London's main opponents in the 1730s were Croydon
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...
and Dartford
Dartford Cricket Club
Dartford Cricket Club is one of the oldest in England and its origins go back to the early 18th century, perhaps earlier.See also: Dartford Brent...
. They played matches against various other parish clubs and sometimes took on county sides, mainly Kent
Kent county cricket teams
Kent county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. Kent, jointly with Sussex, is the birthplace of the sport...
, 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 Sussex. There is sometimes confusion in the reports when London is identified with 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...
and vice-versa but, in general, London means the club and Middlesex was a team of players born in the county who were not necessarily of the London club.
The club's best season may have been the 1732 season
1732 English cricket season
In the 1732 English cricket season, the London Cricket Club continued to predominate and it was said that its team did not lose a game. But, a team called London did lose to Croydon in May, though it might not have been the London Club per se but a team of "London gentlemen"...
when it was unbeaten. As a report recounts after the final match: This is the thirteenth match the London gamesters have played this year and not lost one match.
As the 1730s progressed, London continued to be generally successful. From time to time, challengers appeared. Chertsey Cricket Club
Chertsey Cricket Club
Chertsey Cricket Club in Surrey is one of the oldest in England. Its own website dates its founding as 1737 but in fact matches involving a Chertsey team date from 1736....
first made its mark in the 1736 season
1736 English cricket season
A notable feature of 1736 was the rise to prominence of the famous Chertsey Cricket Club, playing games against both Croydon and London.-Matches:-Other events:...
and London also had some tight contests against Chislehurst in the late 1730s.
But the biggest challenge to London's dominance emerged in the 1741 season
1741 English cricket season
The 1741 English cricket season was notable for the first appearance in recorded matches of the famous Slindon Cricket Club.Much of our knowledge is based on letters written by the Duke and Duchess of Richmond to each other and to the Duke of Newcastle...
. This was Slindon
Slindon Cricket Club
Slindon Cricket Club was famous in the middle part of the 18th century when it claimed to have the best team in England. It was located at Slindon, a village in the Arun district of Sussex....
which starred the great all-rounder Richard Newland
Richard Newland
Richard Newland was an English cricketer in the mid-Georgian period who played for Slindon Cricket Club and Sussex under the patronage of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond. He also represented various All-England teams...
and was backed by the Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond
The 2nd Duke of Richmond has been described as early cricket's greatest patron. Although he had played cricket as a boy, his real involvement began after he succeeded to the dukedom...
. After Slindon beat Surrey "almost in one innings" at the end of that season, it was inevitable they would come to the Artillery Ground and play London. This happened in 1742 when two matches were played against a background of furious gambling with huge wagers being laid against Newland's expected performance. London prevailed, winning the first match "with great difficulty" and then, having been assisted by the weather, thrashing Slindon by 184 runs in the second.
It was London's turn to be thrashed in 1743 when they played another of the "great little clubs": Addington Cricket Club
Addington Cricket Club
Addington is about three miles south-east of Croydon. It is only a small place but Addington Cricket Club fielded one of the strongest cricket teams in England from about the 1743 season to the 1752 season....
who, on their first appearance at the Artillery Ground, easily won by an innings and 4 runs. Addington did have the great player Robert Colchin
Robert Colchin
Robert "Long Robin" Colchin was a highly influential professional English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period at a time when the single wicket version of the game was popular.-Cricket career:...
as a given man.
In 1744, Slindon were back and in June they beat London by 55 runs in a match whose scores have been preserved by the earliest known cricket scorecard. Slindon beat London again in September and proceeded to issue their audacious challenge to play against any parish in England. London did not take up the challenge: only Addington and Bromley
Bromley Cricket Club
Bromley Cricket Club was one of the strongest English cricket clubs in the mid-18th century when its team was led by Robert Colchin aka "Long Robin".-Earliest mentions:...
felt able to respond.
There was a noticeable increase in the popularity of single wicket contests in the late 1740s although the London club often arranged these at the Artillery Ground. In the eleven a side game, county matches or games involving "best elevens" were the norm and, as the 1750s began, London was really playing parish matches only unless it had several given men.
External sources
Further reading
- Harry AlthamHarry AlthamHarry Surtees Altham, CBE, DSO, MC was an English cricketer who became an important figure in the game as an administrator, historian and coach. His Wisden obituary described him as "among the best known personalities in the world of cricket"...
, A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914), George Allen & Unwin, 1962. - Derek BirleyDerek BirleySir Derek Birley was an English educator and writer who had a strong interest in sport, especially cricket.He was educated at grammar school in Hemsworth, West Yorkshire, and at Queens' College, Cambridge University....
, A Social History of English Cricket, Aurum, 1999. - Rowland BowenRowland BowenMajor Rowland Francis Bowen was a cricket researcher, historian and writer....
, Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970. - David UnderdownDavid UnderdownDavid E. Underdown was a historian of 17th-century English politics and culture and Professor Emeritus at Yale University. Born at Wells, Somerset, Underdown was educated at the Blue School and Exeter College, Oxford...
, Start of Play, Allen Lane, 2000.