Stoneleigh Cricket Club
Encyclopedia
Stoneleigh Cricket Club is one of the oldest cricket clubs in Warwickshire
and officially the most beautiful ground in England in 2003 as voted by Wisden Cricketer.
The club was formed in 1839 by Chandos Leigh, 1st Baron Leigh
and the ground was established in front of the West Wing of Stoneleigh Abbey for the benefit of his sons William Henry Leigh and Edward Chandos Leigh
so that they might continue to play cricket in the summer on returning home from Harrow School
.
One of the oldest fixtures recorded is a match played between Stoneleigh CC v Harrow School
in 1847 at Harrow. A match was played against Rugby School
in 1849 at Rugby School
. This match is still annually played between Stoneleigh CC and Rugby School
Sons of William Henry Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh continue to play cricket through the 1860's and 1870's. Fixture Cards dated 1868 and 1869 have been found.
One of the most famous matches was played in September 1872 at Stoneleigh Abbey between the I Zingari
and The Gentleman of Warwickshire to celebrate the coming of age of Lord Leigh's eldest son Gilbert Leigh
.
Today the club is a thriving club with a Junior Team now established as it was originally founded by Chandos Leigh, 1st Baron Leigh
. We have a few ageing members who might remember the golden era of Victorian Country House cricket.
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
and officially the most beautiful ground in England in 2003 as voted by Wisden Cricketer.
The club was formed in 1839 by Chandos Leigh, 1st Baron Leigh
Chandos Leigh, 1st Baron Leigh
Chandos Leigh, 1st Baron Leigh was created 1st Baron Leigh in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1839.Descended from Thomas Leigh, Lord Mayor of London in 1558, he was the grandson of the 2nd Duke of Chandos and the son of James Henry Leigh of Adlestrop, Gloucestershire...
and the ground was established in front of the West Wing of Stoneleigh Abbey for the benefit of his sons William Henry Leigh and Edward Chandos Leigh
Edward Chandos Leigh
Sir Edward Chandos Leigh, KCB, KC, was born in Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire on 22 December 1832, died in London on 18 May 1915.Edward Chandos Leigh’s cricketing career and first class stats might be considered average but he was a popular choice as President of the MCC in its first centenary year...
so that they might continue to play cricket in the summer on returning home from Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
.
One of the oldest fixtures recorded is a match played between Stoneleigh CC v Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
in 1847 at Harrow. A match was played against Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
in 1849 at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
. This match is still annually played between Stoneleigh CC and Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
Sons of William Henry Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh continue to play cricket through the 1860's and 1870's. Fixture Cards dated 1868 and 1869 have been found.
One of the most famous matches was played in September 1872 at Stoneleigh Abbey between the I Zingari
I Zingari
I Zingari are English and Australian amateur cricket clubs.-History:...
and The Gentleman of Warwickshire to celebrate the coming of age of Lord Leigh's eldest son Gilbert Leigh
Gilbert Leigh
The Hon. Gilbert Henry Chandos Leigh DL, JP , was a British Liberal Party politician.-Background and education:...
.
Today the club is a thriving club with a Junior Team now established as it was originally founded by Chandos Leigh, 1st Baron Leigh
Chandos Leigh, 1st Baron Leigh
Chandos Leigh, 1st Baron Leigh was created 1st Baron Leigh in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1839.Descended from Thomas Leigh, Lord Mayor of London in 1558, he was the grandson of the 2nd Duke of Chandos and the son of James Henry Leigh of Adlestrop, Gloucestershire...
. We have a few ageing members who might remember the golden era of Victorian Country House cricket.