Windmill Down

Windmill Down is a rural location near the town of Hambledon in Hampshire. It was used as a venue for major cricket matches in the 18th century and from 1782 as the home of the Hambledon Club.

Opening of Windmill Down

Hambledon used Broadhalfpenny Down from at least 1753 until 1781 when it was abandoned for being "too remote". Broadhalfpenny is about two miles from the village whereas Windmill Down is adjacent. Oddly enough, Broadhalfpenny had a good pub immediately opposite (the famous Bat and Ball Inn) but Windmill Down did not! ^[1]

Major cricket venue

On Tuesday 18 June 1782, the Hampshire Chronicle reported the first meeting on Windmill Down, referring to the ground as "a field called the New Broad Halfpenny adjoining to the Town of Hambledon".^[2] It is probable but unconfirmed that the first match was played there a week later. The first definite major match was Hampshire v All-England in August 1782, All-England winning by 147 runs.^[3]

Last match

Windmill Down was used regularly as the home venue for Hampshire matches until July 1795 when the last recorded match took place there.^[3]

References

1. ↑ Ashley Mote, The Glory Days of Cricket, Robson, 1997
2. ↑ G B Buckley, Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket, Cotterell, 1935
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Arthur Haygarth, Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 (1744-1826), Lillywhite, 1862

External sources

• From Lads to Lord's; The History of Cricket: 1781 – 1786
• CricketArchive – major cricket matches at Windmill Down

Further reading

• 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

Coordinates: 50°56′32″N 1°04′16″W / 50.942346°N 1.071163°W / 50.942346; -1.071163