As we prepare for another weekend of cricket on The Common and elsewhere, it is worth reminding ourselves that we are continuing a tradition of 162 years of Harpenden Cricket Club.

Did you know?

It is thought that the first written mention of cricket being played on The Common dates from 1829. George IV was on the throne and the Duke of Wellington (yes, him - The Battle of Waterloo geezer) was the Prime Minister.

It was a 'novel cricket match' between 'four left-handed players of Harpenden and four right-handed players'.

Harpenden Cricket Cub was founded in 1863, by which time Queen Victoria was on the throne and Viscount Palmerston was our PM. The club's first President was none other than Sir John Lawes.

Harpenden's population back in 1863 was just 2,200.

The club's first fixture was against Flamstead.

In the 1880s and 1890s, the normal means of transport for away matches was a 'pair-horsed brake' (a type of horse-drawn carriage) which would leave from The George. Hills were, reportedly, 'troublesome'.

In 1896, the First XI had fixtures against Frogmore, St George's School, Medical Wanderers, Redbourne (their spelling, not mine), Welwyn (presumably before it became a Garden City), Herts Police 'C' Division, Luton and St Albans.

The first pavilion was erected in 1909, the second in 1936, the third in 1970 (extended in 1977) and the current pavilion was refurbished and extended in 2019. The cost of the 1936 pavilion was the princely sum of £434.

Thanks to Platty for lending me a small fraction of his extensive HCC archive. He will be testing you all on this historical information in the bar after tomorrow's matches have finished. If you enjoyed this little history lesson, we could arrange for further instalments.