Robert Bartholomew (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Robert Bartholomew was an English cricket
er in the mid-18th century. He played for Surrey
in the 1750s and may well have been related to the Bartholomews who played for Chertsey Cricket Club
in the 1770s.
Re a game in the 1749 English cricket season
at White Conduit Fields
on 2 August involving 22 members of the London Cricket Club
, the report states that the venue was in use before 1720 but that the White Conduit Club
was not established until 1780. On the site was the White Conduit Tavern, erected in about 1648, and this was a favourite halting-place for those who had walked out a short distance from London. In 1749, the Tavern was owned by William Curnock and shortly afterwards by Robert Bartholomew (died 1766), the Surrey cricketer .
In 1750, the same Robert Bartholomew played for Surrey versus Kent
at Dartford Brent
, Kent winning by 3 wickets .
At the time of his death in 1766, Robert Bartholomew was the master of the Angel Inn at Islington
and also of White Conduit House .
and appeared on scorecards in the 1770s. It is not known if they were related to Robert or to each other, though it is highly likely. On the cards of three Chertsey matches in the 1775 English cricket season
, they are recorded as "Rev Bartholomew senior" and "Mr Bartholomew junior". It is believed that the junior was William Bartholomew, who also played for Surrey teams at the time, including matches in 1773 for which scorecards have survived. The senior is believed to be the Reverend Charles Bartholomew, a Chertsey Club stalwart who played occasionally in the 1770s but may have been a regular in times past .
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er in the mid-18th century. He played for Surrey
Surrey county cricket teams
Surrey county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. The first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford.-17th century:...
in the 1750s and may well have been related to the Bartholomews who played for Chertsey Cricket Club
Chertsey Cricket Club
Chertsey Cricket Club in Surrey is one of the oldest in England. Its own website dates its founding as 1737 but in fact matches involving a Chertsey team date from 1736....
in the 1770s.
Re a game in the 1749 English cricket season
1749 English cricket season
In the 1749 English cricket season, the popularity of single wicket may have waned as there is a greater proportion of eleven a side games in the year’s reports.- Matches :-Other events:...
at White Conduit Fields
White Conduit Fields
White Conduit Fields in Islington was an early venue of major cricket matches and the original home of the White Conduit Club, forerunner of MCC...
on 2 August involving 22 members of the London Cricket Club
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:...
, the report states that the venue was in use before 1720 but that the White Conduit Club
White Conduit Club
The White Conduit Club, although short-lived, was perhaps the most significant club in cricket history for it bridged the gulf between the rural and rustic Hambledon era and the new, modern and metropolitan era of MCC and Lord's, the two entities that it spawned.We do not know for certain when the...
was not established until 1780. On the site was the White Conduit Tavern, erected in about 1648, and this was a favourite halting-place for those who had walked out a short distance from London. In 1749, the Tavern was owned by William Curnock and shortly afterwards by Robert Bartholomew (died 1766), the Surrey cricketer .
In 1750, the same Robert Bartholomew played for Surrey versus 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...
at Dartford Brent
Dartford Brent
Dartford Brent was an extensive area of common land on the outskirts of Dartford in Kent. In history, it was the scene of a confrontation between King Henry VI and Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York in 1452; and in 1555 thousands of spectators were to witness the burning to death at the stake of...
, Kent winning by 3 wickets .
At the time of his death in 1766, Robert Bartholomew was the master of the Angel Inn at Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
and also of White Conduit House .
The Chertsey Bartholomews
Two more Bartholomews played for Chertsey Cricket ClubChertsey Cricket Club
Chertsey Cricket Club in Surrey is one of the oldest in England. Its own website dates its founding as 1737 but in fact matches involving a Chertsey team date from 1736....
and appeared on scorecards in the 1770s. It is not known if they were related to Robert or to each other, though it is highly likely. On the cards of three Chertsey matches in the 1775 English cricket season
1775 English cricket season
In the 1775 English cricket season, an incident in a single wicket contest led to demands for the third stump in the wicket.-Matches:-Other events:The earliest known reference to cricket in Huntingdonshire, always a minor county, was in 1775 ....
, they are recorded as "Rev Bartholomew senior" and "Mr Bartholomew junior". It is believed that the junior was William Bartholomew, who also played for Surrey teams at the time, including matches in 1773 for which scorecards have survived. The senior is believed to be the Reverend Charles Bartholomew, a Chertsey Club stalwart who played occasionally in the 1770s but may have been a regular in times past .