Moulsey Hurst

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Moulsey Hurst is one of England's oldest sporting venues. It was famous in the 18th and 19th centuries for cricket, prizefighting and other sports. It was the site of the now defunct Hurst Park horse race course.

According to an article by Peter Radford in The Observer on Sunday May 2, 2004, in autumn 1787 a professional runner named Powell ran a mile in 4 minutes and 3 seconds at Moulsey Hurst in preparation for an attempt on the 4 minute mile.

In 1798 a Mr. Troward, a member of the Toxophilite Society, shot an arrow on a level piece of ground on Moulsey Hurst seventeen score, or 340 yards.

It is said to be the site of the first game of golf in England.

The first cricket match known to have been played there was in 1723. It is reputed that the first dismissal by Leg Before Wicket was given here in 1795.

One of cricket's most famous paintings, Cricket at Moulsey Hurst, is owned by MCC and on display at Lord's.

Moulsey Hurst was located in what is now Molesey on the south bank of the River Thames near Hampton Court. The 1872 OS map shows a race course marked Molesey Hurst in this position. The location of the cricket ground was probably in the centre of the racecourse, which was common practice in the 18th century. The present day cricket pitch is about a quarter of a mile further east.

English cricket venues in the 18th century

Artillery Ground | Bishopsbourne Paddock | Broadhalfpenny Down | Bromley Common | Dartford Brent | Duppas Hill Guildford Bason | Kennington Common | Laleham Burway | Lord's Cricket Ground | Mitcham Cricket Green | Moulsey Hurst Richmond Green | Vine Cricket Ground | White Conduit Fields

[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)