Richmond Green
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| One of the most beautiful urban greens surviving anywhere in England. | ||
Richmond Green in Richmond, England was a popular venue for cricket matches during the 18th Century and before.
The earliest reference we have dates from 1666 in a letter by Sir Robert Paston, a resident of Richmond, who refers to a match on Richmond Green.
The earliest definite fixture on the Green was Surrey v Middlesex in June 1730, which is the very first match recorded in Cricket Scores 1730 – 1773 by H T Waghorn. All we know of the outcome is that Surrey won.
Perhaps the most infamous game to be played on the Green took place the following year on 23 August when a Mr Chambers organised an eleven a side game against the Duke of Richmond's team from Sussex. Also recorded in Cricket Scores 1730 – 1773 by H T Waghorn, it seems to be the earliest match where team scores are known: Duke of Richmond 79, Mr Chambers 119; Duke of Richmond 72, Mr Chambers 23-5 (approx.). The game ended promptly at a pre-agreed time although Mr Chambers with "four or five more to have come in" and needing "about 8 to 10 notches" clearly had the upper hand. The end result caused a fracas among the crowd at Richmond Green who were incensed by the prompt finish because the Duke of Richmond had arrived late and delayed the start of the game. The riot resulted in some of the Sussex players "having the shirts torn off their backs; and it was said a law suit would commence about the play".
Croydon played Chertsey in a drawn game on 5 July 1736: Chertsey 88 & 55; Croydon 58 & 24-9. So Croydon just hung on for the draw.
Another notable game was the earliest known tied match on 22 July 1741 when Surrey played London. The scores were not reported but we are told that the tie occasioned the bets to be drawn on both sides. The teams decided to play again at the Artillery Ground the following Monday but we don't know the outcome of that one.
The first time we hear of a team called Richmond playing at Richmond Green is also the last time we hear of the ground as a cricket venue. This was on 4 July 1743 when Richmond & Kingston were beaten by London. The famous Robert "Long Robin" Colchin, of Bromley, played for London as a given man.
Richmond Green is also situated close to Richmond Lending Library and Richmond Theatre.
| English cricket venues in the 18th century |
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Artillery Ground | Bishopsbourne Paddock | Broadhalfpenny Down | Bromley Common | Dartford Brent | Duppas Hill |
| London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |
|---|
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Districts: Barnes | Ham | Hampton | Kew | Mortlake | Richmond | St. Margarets | Teddington | Twickenham | Whitton Attractions: Bushy Park | Hampton Court Palace | London Wetlands Centre | Kew Gardens | Richmond Park | Twickenham Stadium Constituencies: Richmond Park | Twickenham |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians - various publications;
- At the Sign of the Wicket: Cricket 1742 – 1751 by F S Ashley-Cooper in Cricket Magazine (1900) (ASW);
- Cricket Scores 1730 - 1773 by H T Waghorn (WCS);
- Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket by G B Buckley (FL18);
- Fresh Light on Pre-Victorian Cricket by G B Buckley (FLPV);
- From the Weald to the World by Peter Wynne-Thomas (PWT);
- Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 by Arthur Haygarth (SBnnn);
- The Dawn of Cricket by H T Waghorn (WDC)
