1740 English cricket season
Encyclopedia
In the 1740 English cricket season, few matches were reported. London
features in all of them. Rain was a problem in July. As in other times of warfare or economic depression, less cricket was played than in times of peace and (for some) prosperity.
London Cricket Club
The original London Cricket Club was formed by 1722 and was one of the foremost clubs in English cricket over the next four decades. It is closely associated with the Artillery Ground, where it played most of its home matches.-Early history of London cricket:...
features in all of them. Rain was a problem in July. As in other times of warfare or economic depression, less cricket was played than in times of peace and (for some) prosperity.
Matches
| Date | Match Title | Venue | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | Chislehurst v London | Chislehurst | London won | |
The report only states the venue and the winners. |
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| June | London v Chislehurst | Artillery Ground Artillery Ground The Artillery Ground in Finsbury is one of London's most centrally located cricket grounds, situated just off the City Road immediately north of the City of London... |
result unknown | |
"All persons to come in at the iron gates at the Pyed Horse-yard". |
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| c.9 July (W) | Richmond & Moulsey v London | Moulsey Hurst Moulsey Hurst Moulsey Hurst is located in what is now West Molesey, Surrey on the south bank of the River Thames above Molesey Lock. It is one of England's oldest sporting venues and was used in the 18th and 19th centuries for cricket, prizefighting and other sports.... |
drawn (rain) | |
Scores are known: London 100 & 70-8; R&M 86. Rain delayed the start till between three and four o’clock. It was decided to try again next week at the Artillery Ground Artillery Ground The Artillery Ground in Finsbury is one of London's most centrally located cricket grounds, situated just off the City Road immediately north of the City of London... . |
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| 16 July (W) | London v Richmond & Moulsey | Artillery Ground | London won by 73 runs | |
Reported by the London & Country Journal dated Tuesday 22 July. |
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| c.21 July (M) | Kent Kent county cricket teams Kent county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. Kent, jointly with Sussex, is the birthplace of the sport... v London |
Sevenoaks Vine Vine Cricket Ground The Vine Cricket Ground is one of the oldest cricket venues in England. It was given to the town of Sevenoaks in 1773 by John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset and owner of Knole House, where the ground is sited... |
drawn (rain) | |
Kent scored 71 & 130; London scored 98 and 30-3. Rain halted play "for some time". The report mentions the return match below. |
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| c.28 July (M) | London v Kent | Artillery Ground | result unknown | |
This return game is not mentioned by other sources. |
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| 8 September (M) | Bucks, Berks & Herts v London | Uxbridge Moor | London won | |
London won "with great difficulty". The report mentions the return fixture below. |
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| 15 September (M) | London v Bucks, Berks & Herts | Artillery Ground | result unknown | |
As the source says: "no notice of second match". |
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External sources
Further reading
- H S AlthamHarry AlthamHarry Surtees Altham, CBE, DSO, MC was an English cricketer who became an important figure in the game as an administrator, historian and coach. His Wisden obituary described him as "among the best known personalities in the world of cricket"...
, A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914), George Allen & Unwin, 1962 - Derek BirleyDerek BirleySir Derek Birley was an English educator and writer who had a strong interest in sport, especially cricket.He was educated at grammar school in Hemsworth, West Yorkshire, and at Queens' College, Cambridge University....
, A Social History of English Cricket, Aurum, 1999 - Rowland BowenRowland BowenMajor Rowland Francis Bowen was a cricket researcher, historian and writer....
, Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970 - David UnderdownDavid UnderdownDavid E. Underdown was a historian of 17th-century English politics and culture and Professor Emeritus at Yale University. Born at Wells, Somerset, Underdown was educated at the Blue School and Exeter College, Oxford...
, Start of Play, Allen Lane, 2000