Cambridge Cricket Venues

From 1757

Jesus Green
From 1792

Parker's Piece
From 1805

Jesus Close

From 1820

Midsummer Common

1821-30

University private

ground Mill Rd

From 1846

Field behind Town Gaol

From 1848

Fenner's

Gallery

Here is a selection of illustrations relevant to the history of Cambridgeshire cricket 1710-1890.

Frank Fenner in old age
I do not know the exact date of this picture, but it probably dates from his time in Bath where he ran a hotel and spent the latter part of his life.

Degree Morning, Cambridge, 1863 by Robert Farren

The interest in this picture is the inclusion of the two bowler-hatted figures at the back of the left hand group. They are Tom Hayward and Robert Carpenter. Their inclusion indicates their social importance at that time since this is a picture of academic Cambridge with no specific relevance to cricket.

Children playing on the College Backs in Cambridge c 1838

I like to think that this picture illustrates my not particularly original thesis that the presence of top class cricketers such as Fenner and Boning of the Cambridge Town and County Club and Caldecourt and Redgate, professionals for the University Club, inspired enthusiasm for the game amongst children in the town thus paving the way for future top class cicketers to develop.

Cricket on Parker's Piece 1854

Note the general sense of mayhem which seems to have been the norm on Parker's Piece.

The 1868 England touring team to Canada and the US. John Smith and George Tarrant of Cambridgeshire are middle of front row and 3rd from right back row respectively. This is the only picture of John Smith I have come across.

The University Arms 1840

The University Arms Hotel, Parker's Piece, Cambridge 2009. This hotel was quite new in 1840 at a time when cricket in the town was hitting one of its peaks as is indicated by the presence of cricketers in the background of the picture from that date. The Cambridge Town and County Club's first general meeting was held there and I assume that the game was good for business..

1830
2009

The Hoop Hotel, Cambridge, home of the Hoop Cricket Club 1827-30 sadly is no more, although the upper facade is still clear to see.

Here are two pictures of cricket on Parker's Piece. The one above is a detail of apicture dated as being between Cambridge Town and University in 1846. Below is another picture that I have not yet dated but it does seem to be basically the same picture, if a little rougher in style.

The third picture in this series is dated as being from the 1860's, but is again based on the same basic picture. I would like to know which of the first two came first.