Broadhalfpenny Down
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Broadhalfpenny Down, situated on a hilltop about a mile from the rural village of Hambledon in Hampshire, was the home venue of the Hambledon Cricket Club during its halcyon days of the mid to late 18th Century. It was used for various sports besides cricket. The famous Bat & Ball Inn, run for many years by Hambledon captain Richard Nyren is immediately next to the Down.
As a venue for first-class cricket, Broadhalfpenny Down was used from 1756 (earliest definite date) until 1781, Hambledon, moving their home ground to near-by Windmill Down the following season.
[edit] The down
The cricket ground lies on a ridge connecting Broadhalfpenny Down itself to the higher ground to the north at Wether Down and Salt Hill. The ridge and the down to the south are crossed by the Monarch's Way long distance footpath before it descends towards Horndean.
[edit] References
- G B Buckley, Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket, Cotterell, 1935
- Arthur Haygarth, Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 (1744-1826), Lillywhite, 1862
- Ashley Mote, The Glory Days of Cricket, Robson, 1997
- Ashley Mote, John Nyren's "The Cricketers of my Time", Robson, 1998
- H T Waghorn, The Dawn of Cricket, Electric Press, 1906
[edit] External links
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