Dartford Cricket Club
Encyclopedia
Dartford Cricket Club is one of the oldest in England and its origins go back to the early 18th century, perhaps earlier.
See also: Dartford Brent
Dartford players were reckoned by Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford
, writing in his diary in 1723, to "lay claim to the greatest excellence" among English cricketers.
The club played a number of big matches against London
and, in 1756, they were involved in a tri-series against the sport's rising power, the Hambledon Club
.
Dartford produced several famous players in the 18th century including cricket's earliest known great player William Bedle
. Later players included William Hodsoll
, John Bell
, John Frame
and Ned Wenman
.
See also: 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...
Dartford players were reckoned by Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford
Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer
Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer KG was a British politician and statesman of the late Stuart and early Georgian periods. He began his career as a Whig, before defecting to a new Tory Ministry. Between 1711 and 1714 he served as First Lord of the Treasury, effectively Queen...
, writing in his diary in 1723, to "lay claim to the greatest excellence" among English cricketers.
The club played a number of big matches against London
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:...
and, in 1756, they were involved in a tri-series against the sport's rising power, the Hambledon Club
Hambledon Club
The Hambledon Club was a social club that is famous for its organisation of 18th century cricket matches. By the late 1770s it was the foremost cricket club in England.-Foundation:...
.
Dartford produced several famous players in the 18th century including cricket's earliest known great player William Bedle
William Bedle
William Bedle was an English cricketer who played for Dartford and Kent in the first quarter of the 18th century. He is the sport's earliest known accomplished player...
. Later players included William Hodsoll
William Hodsoll
William Hodsoll , was a noted English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period. Hodsoll lived at Dartford for some years and was a tanner ....
, John Bell
John Bell (cricketer)
John Bell was a noted English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period at a time when the single wicket version of the game was popular...
, John Frame
John Frame (cricketer)
John Frame was an English cricketer and arguably the first great fast bowler in the game's history...
and Ned Wenman
Ned Wenman
Edward Gower Wenman was an English cricketer in the mid-19th century.Coming to eminence in 1831, he was a key member of the great Kent team of the 1840s and generally rated one of the best wicket-keepers of the period...
.
External sources
Further reading
- F S Ashley-Cooper, At the Sign of the Wicket: Cricket 1742-1751, Cricket Magazine, 1900
- F S Ashley-Cooper, Kent Cricket Matches 1719-1880, Gibbs & Sons, 1929
- G B Buckley, Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket, Cotterell, 1935
- Arthur HaygarthArthur HaygarthArthur Haygarth was a noted amateur cricketer who became one of cricket's most significant historians....
, Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 (1744-1826), Lillywhite, 1862 - H T WaghornH T WaghornHenry Thomas Waghorn , was a cricket statistician and historian. He is best known for his two classic researches into cricket's early history: The Dawn of Cricket and Cricket Scores: 1730 - 1773....
, The Dawn of Cricket, Electric Press, 1906