History of
Petersfield Cricket Club
Artefacts and memorabilia from the club can be found in
Petersfield Museum
The First Cricket Ground
The earliest reference to cricket in Petersfield is found in an
election document which states that in 1741 part of a field belonging to a Mr
Pay was called Cricket Field. This is confirmed on the Hylton Estate Maps of
1773 and 1793 and shows the ground sited on the east side of Frenchman’s Road.
The
First Recorded Match
Although the club does not have records earlier than the 1930s
various early matches involving Petersfield are recorded in newspapers and
books. For instance, in 1781 the Hampshire Chronicle records a match played
between Hambledon and a combined Petersfield and Buriton team for 500 guineas a
side. “None to play who were more than 16 years old”. 500 guineas was an
enormous sum to wager on the outcome of a match, but far higher amounts were
wagered in those days.
The SmallsThe Advent of RailwayMoving To The HeathThe Cricket Pavilion