The Walkers of Southgate
Encyclopedia
The Walkers of Southgate were a cricketing family who lived at Arnos Grove
Estate in Southgate
, Middlesex
. The family fortune was built through the brewing company Taylor Walker, and the seven brothers were all sent to Harrow School
and Trinity College, Cambridge
. It was at school and university that the Walkers became keen cricketers.
The three eldest brothers originally played for the Southgate Albert, the village team, on the bumpy Chapel Fields wicket until John had the ground re-turfed in the early 1850s. The brothers founded the Southgate Cricket Club
in 1855, a Middlesex team in 1859, the official Middlesex County Cricket Club
in 1864 and were instrumental in establishing the home of the county at Lords
in 1877. In 1859, the first match played by the Middlesex team was held in Southgate against Kent, who were defeated by 78 runs.
Although Test Cricket
only started in 1877, four of the brothers played in the United All-England Eleven prior to that date. Both the United All-England team and the MCC
would visit Southgate to take on the brothers and their team, attended by crowds of up to 10,000.
Their cricket ground Chapel Fields in Waterfall Road, Southgate became the Walker Cricket Ground
in 1907 and is maintained by the Walker Trust to this day.
Arnos Grove
Arnos Grove is an area in the south west corner of the London Borough of Enfield, England.It sits close to Enfield's borders with two other boroughs: Barnet and Haringey...
Estate in Southgate
Southgate, London
Southgate is an area of north London, England, primarily within the London Borough of Enfield, although parts of its western fringes lie within the London Borough of Barnet. It is located around north of Charing Cross. The name is derived from being the south gate to Enfield Chase...
, 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...
. The family fortune was built through the brewing company Taylor Walker, and the seven brothers were all sent to Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. It was at school and university that the Walkers became keen cricketers.
The three eldest brothers originally played for the Southgate Albert, the village team, on the bumpy Chapel Fields wicket until John had the ground re-turfed in the early 1850s. The brothers founded the Southgate Cricket Club
Southgate Cricket Club
Southgate Cricket Club is located in the London suburb of Southgate. The club played eight matches ranked as first-class between 1863 and 1868. Six of these were against Oxford University and the remaining two were against Cambridge University. Though recognised as first-class fixtures, they were...
in 1855, a Middlesex team in 1859, the official Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex 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 Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
in 1864 and were instrumental in establishing the home of the county at Lords
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
in 1877. In 1859, the first match played by the Middlesex team was held in Southgate against Kent, who were defeated by 78 runs.
Although Test Cricket
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
only started in 1877, four of the brothers played in the United All-England Eleven prior to that date. Both the United All-England team 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...
would visit Southgate to take on the brothers and their team, attended by crowds of up to 10,000.
Their cricket ground Chapel Fields in Waterfall Road, Southgate became the Walker Cricket Ground
John Walker's Ground
The Walker Ground, Southgate is a cricket ground in Southgate, London. The ground was first used by the Middlesex 1st XI as long ago as 1859, but had to wait until 1991 for its next county match, and until 1998 to become a regular Middlesex venue...
in 1907 and is maintained by the Walker Trust to this day.
- The seven Walker brothers:
- John WalkerJohn Walker (cricketer)John Walker was an English cricketer.Walker was born in Palmers Green, the eldest of seven cricket playing brothers - the Walkers of Southgate. He was educated in Stanmore and at Trinity College, Cambridge...
(1826-1885) - Alfred Walker (1827-1870)
- Frederic WalkerFrederic WalkerFrederic Walker was an English cricketer.Walker was born in Southgate, Middlesex and was the third of seven cricket playing brothers - the Walkers of Southgate. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge...
(1829-1889) - Arthur Henry Walker (1833-1878)
- Vyell Edward Walker (1837-1906)
- Russell Donnithorne WalkerRussell WalkerRussell Donnithorne Walker was an English cricketer and cricket administrator.Russell Walker was born in Southgate, Middlesex. He was the sixth of seven cricket playing brothers, who were influential in the establishing of the Middlesex County Cricket Club in 1864...
(1842-1922) - Isaac Donnithorne Walker (1844-1898)
- John Walker
- The seven brothers had an uncle:
- Henry Walker (1807-1872)