First known use of English cricket venues (1610–1825)

This article records English cricket venues whose first known use was in or before the 1825 season.

The cutoff is set at 1825 because records since then became increasingly certain and comprehensive. On 28 July 1825, the Lord's Pavilion was destroyed by fire. MCC's entire archive, which included countless unique documents recording early matches, was irretrievably lost. With few exceptions, there is no certainty as to when any venue to 1825 was first used for cricket. This record is therefore inexhaustive, as ongoing research may discover earlier dates or additional venues.

Many of the early matches were played at unspecified venues, the sources giving only the name of a population centre, such as a village, parish, or town. Even when a venue is named, it tends to be a common, or other large tract of land. Each venue is listed once, in the first season that it is known to have staged a match, and the confirmed or assumed title of that match is also given. Note #1: Online databases are excluded from this work as the scope is historical, and NOT statistical. Note #2: Most of the matches mentioned were eleven-a-side, while others were single wicket events. In general, they were historically important. The list does include some minor matches—two local teams; "gentlemen only"; senior citizens only; etc.—but the objective here is to capture the venues, and the matches are incidental.

1610 to 1730 season venue location match / notes 1610 (unspecified) Chevening, Kent Weald and Upland v Chalkhill.World's earliest-known organised match. 1646 Coxheath Common Coxheath, Kent Coxheath v Maidstone.Earliest-known "odds" match (two of Coxheath against four of Maidstone); possibly single wicket. 1666 Richmond Green Richmond, Surrey In a letter, Sir Robert Paston mentioned "a game of criquett on Richmond Green". 1677 "Ye Dicker" Herstmonceux, Sussex Thomas Lennard, 1st Earl of Sussex received £3 at a match on "ye Dicker", which was a common near Herstmonceux. 1685 Mitcham Cricket Green Mitcham, Surrey Based on a claim that Mitcham Cricket Club and its ground originated in 1685, but there is no evidence to support it. 1694 (unspecified) Lewes, Sussex The accounts of Sir John Pelham record that he paid 2s 6d for a wager concerning a match in Lewes. 1700 Clapham Common Clapham, Surrey A series of ten-a-side matches was announced in a newspaper. 1705 (unspecified) Town Malling, Kent West of Kent v Chatham.The primary source gave the curious location of "Maulden", which doesn't exist. It is generally believed that Maulden was Town Malling. 1707 Duppas Hill Croydon, Surrey Croydon v London. Lamb's Conduit Field Holborn, Middlesex London v Mitcham. 1709 Dartford Brent Dartford, Kent Kent v Surrey. Ostensibly, the earliest known "inter-county" match, but it is believed to have been an "inter-parish" match involving two villages on either side of the county boundary. 1718 White Conduit Fields Islington, Middlesex London v Rochester Punch Club. 1723 Moulsey Hurst Moulsey, Surrey Surrey v London. 1724 (unspecified) Chingford, Essex Chingford v Edwin Stead's XI.The match is tentatively believed to have been played in Chingford, but there can be no certainty. Stead sued his opponents for unpaid wagers. Following the court case, the match was "played out" in September 1726, but on Dartford Brent. If the original did take place in Chingford, it is the earliest known match played in Essex. Kennington Common Kennington, Surrey London v Dartford. Penshurst Park Penshurst, Kent Penshurst, Tunbridge Wells & Wadhurst v Dartford. 1725 Artillery Ground Finsbury, Middlesex The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) took issue with Mr Robinson, apparently the groundskeeper, saying he was responsible for "abuse done to the herbage of the ground", not only by horses but "also by Crickett Players". Bury Hill Arundel, Sussex 2nd Duke of Richmond's XI v Sir William Gage's XI. 1727 (unspecified) Cranbrook, Kent Oak Apple Day senior citizens' match. Peper Harow Godalming, Surrey Alan Brodrick's XI v 2nd Duke of Richmond's XI. Warehorne Green Warehorne, Kent Warehorne XII v Hawkshurst XII. 1729 "The Downs" Lewes, Sussex Edwin Stead's XI v Sir William Gage's XI (unspecified) Farnham, Surrey Surrey v Kent. Farnham was later noted for Holt Pound. (unspecified) Gloucester, Gloucestershire A local game on 22 September 1729 is the earliest known reference to cricket in both the city and the county. Walworth Common Walworth, Surrey Kent v Sussex. Earliest known match involving a team expressly called Sussex. The "Woolpack" Islington, Middlesex Gentlemen of Middlesex v Gentlemen of London. The first match known to include "Gentlemen" in its title; also the first known to involve a team called Middlesex. The match was listed under 1728 for over a century. In 2007, it was realised that there had been a dating error. The given day of the week did not match the calendar, because 5 August 1728 was a Monday, not a Tuesday as originally transcribed. 1730 (unspecified) Blackheath, Kent Greenwich v London. Datchet Common Datchet, Buckinghamshire Local match. Datchet is now in Berkshire. The Dripping Pan Lewes, Sussex 2nd Duke of Richmond's XI v Sir William Gage's XI. Epsom Down Epsom, Surrey Epsom v Sunbury. Frog Lane Islington, Middlesex London v Kent. Gray's Inn Lane Gray's Inn, Middlesex London v Kent. Kew Green Kew, Surrey Brentford v Kent. Merrow Down Guildford, Surrey Surrey v Sussex. Mickleham Down Mickleham, Surrey Surrey v Sussex. Putney Heath Putney, Surrey Putney v Fulham. (unspecified) Tonbridge, Kent A twelve-a-side game which was apparently a big event. Westerham Common Westerham, Kent Kent v Brentford.

1731 to 1750 season venue location match / notes 1731 Chelsea Common Chelsea, Middlesex Chelsea v Fulham. (unspecified) Chichester, Sussex 2nd Duke of Richmond's XI v Thomas Chambers' XI. This was the second of their three matches in 1731. Dulwich Common Dulwich, Surrey Surrey v Kent. (unspecified) Maidstone, Kent Captain Beak v Lieutenant Coke. A single wicket match won by Beak. Parsons Green Fulham, Middlesex Fulham v Chelsea. Sanderstead Common Sanderstead, Surrey Surrey v Thomas Chambers' XI. Smitham Bottom Coulsdon, Surrey Surrey v East Grinstead. Sunbury Common Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey Sunbury v Kent. 1732 (unspecified) Epping Forest, Essex Essex & Hertfordshire v London. The earliest recorded mention of cricket in connection with the county of Hertfordshire. 1733 Ealing Common Ealing, Middlesex Acton & Ealing v London. 1734 Vine Cricket Ground Sevenoaks, Kent Kent v Sussex. Also known as Sevenoaks Vine. 1735 Bromley Common Bromley, Kent Kent v London. The game was marred by crowd trouble. Tothill Fields Westminster, Middlesex Westminster v London. 1736 Barnes Common Barnes, Surrey Surrey v London. Laleham Burway Chertsey, Surrey Chertsey v Croydon. White Lion Fields Streatham, Surrey Streatham v London. 1737 Hyde Park London Frederick, Prince of Wales' XI v Sir William Gage's XI. (unspecified) Ilford, Essex Essex v London. The earliest known match that was definitely played in the county of Essex. (unspecified) Ware, Hertfordshire Hertford v Brentwood. 1738 Chislehurst Common Chislehurst, Kent Chislehurst v Horsmonden. (unspecified) Dorchester, Dorset Two local teams. (unspecified) Horsmonden, Kent Horsmonden v Chislehurst. 1740 New Ground, Uxbridge Moor Uxbridge, Middlesex Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Hertfordshire v London. First known mentions of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire in terms of county cricket. 1741 (unspecified) Charlwood, Surrey Surrey v London. Cow Meadow Northampton Huntingdonshire & Northamptonshire v Bedfordshire. Stansted Park Chichester, Sussex Slindon v Portsmouth. Woburn Park Woburn, Bedfordshire Bedfordshire v Huntingdonshire & Northamptonshire. 1743 Marsh's New Ground Rochester, Kent Rochester v Dartford. 1745 Addington Hills Addington, Surrey Addington v London. 1747 Ripley Green Ripley, Surrey Bromley & Ripley v London.1748 Mr Siddle's Ground Deptford, London Deptford & Greenwich v London. Peckham Rye Common Peckham Rye, London Lambeth v London. 1749 Barnet Common Chipping Barnet, Hertfordshire Middlesex v Hertfordshire.

1751 to 1770 season venue location match / notes 1751 Hayes Common Bromley, Kent Addington v Hadlow. Raby Castle County Durham 1st Earl of Northumberland's XI v 3rd Duke of Cleveland's XI. (unspecified) Somerset Local match. Stanwick Richmond, North Yorkshire 3rd Duke of Cleveland's XI v 1st Earl of Northumberland's XI. (unspecified) Warwickshire Local match. 1752 Durdham Down Bristol, Gloucestershire Bristol v London. Long Down Chichester, Sussex Sussex v Surrey. Upper Fountain Deptford, Kent/Surrey Deptford v Westminster. 1753 (unspecified) Dover, Kent Dover v Dartford. Broadhalfpenny Down Hambledon, Hampshire Hambledon v Surrey. 1754 Barrack Field Woolwich, Kent Woolwich v Dartford. (unspecified) Brompton, Kent Chatham v Dartford. (unspecified) Guildford, Surrey Surrey v Sussex. Bowling Green,Lavington Common Petworth, Sussex Midhurst & Petworth v Slindon. 1755 (unspecified) Cambridge Cambridge University v Eton College. Hampton Court Green Hampton, Middlesex Hampton v Kingston. 1757 Brampton Moor Chesterfield, Derbyshire Wirksworth v Sheffield. 1761 The Crown Billericay, Essex Essex v Kent Chapeltown Moor Leeds Two Elevens 1762 (unspecified) Carshalton Surrey v Kent 1764 Ampton Racecourse Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Suffolk v Norfolk Henfield Common Henfield, Sussex Arundel v East Sussex Romford Racecourse Romford, Essex Romford v Dartford Scole Common Scole, Suffolk Suffolk v Norfolk 1765 (unspecified) Sheffield Sheffield v Leeds 1766 Bishopsbourne Paddock Bishopsbourne, Kent Bourne v Dartford 1767 Caterham Common Caterham, Surrey Caterham v Hambledon 1768 (unspecified) Stamford Hill, Middlesex Middlesex v Surrey 1769 Guildford Bason Guildford, Surrey Caterham v Hambledon (unspecified) Stanmore, Middlesex Middlesex v London

Remainder This is a work in progress, and the main task pending is the addition, with citations, of the following venues to one of the tables. Most if not all of the necessary citations can be found in the season review articles—e.g., 1771 English cricket season.

Note that this list may not be exhaustive.

First mentions from 1771 to 1825 are:

1771 Forest New Ground, Nottingham Nottingham v Sheffield 1773 Chatham Lines Chatham v Bourne 1774 Peasmarsh (unspecified) Sussex v Maidstone 1775 Kilmiston Down Hambledon Parish v Hampshire 1775 Old Field, Bray Maidenhead v Risborough 1776 Cheden Holt Hampshire v England 1776 Tichborne Down Alresford v Catherington & Petersfield 1777 Old Park, Canterbury Sir H. Mann's XI v Duke of Dorset's XI 1778 Itchin Stoke Down Hambledon Club v Hambledon Parish 1779 Henley (unspecified) Oxfordshire v Berkshire 1779 Maidenhead Thicket Berkshire Club v Berkshire & Hampshire 1779 Odiham Down Alresford v Berkshire 1780 Priestwood Common Maidenhead v Chertsey 1780 The Nythe, Alresford Alresford v Alton & Odiham 1781 Barrowcliffe Meadow, Leicester Leicester v Melton Mowbray 1781 Benson Common, Oxfordshire Oxfordshire v Berkshire 1781 Loughborough (unspecified) Leicester v Nottingham 1782 Windmill Down Hampshire v England 1783 Melton Mowbray (unspecified) Melton Mowbray v Nottingham 1783 Strood (unspecified) Strood v Dartford 1784 Holt Pound, Farnham Farnham v Alton & Odiham 1784 Langton Park, Hornchurch Hornchurch v Dartford 1784 Little Marlow (unspecified) Buckinghamshire v Berkshire 1785 Langley Broom Bucks v Berkshire 1785 Lingfield Common Lingfield v Sussex 1785 North Green, Reading Farnham v Petworth 1785 Nottis Green, Beaconsfield Bucks v Herts 1785 Petworth Park Petworth v Farnham 1786 Bearsted Green Maidstone v Kent 1786 Hayley Green, Warfield Berkshire v Middlesex 1786 Northchapel (unspecified) Farnham v Hampshire & Sussex 1786 Thursley (unspecified) Thursley v Six Parishes 1787 Amberley Hill West Sussex v East Sussex 1787 Hinckley (unspecified) Leicester v Coventry