the club prior to 1863
The Club possesses no records earlier than the Minute Book of 1863 and our knowledge of its activities before that relies on accounts of matches taken from Bell’s Life and the Surrey Comet. These two weekly newspapers commenced publication on 3rd March 1822 and 5th August 1854 respectively.
In a speech made at the Club’s Annual Dinner in 1923, Mr John Barton, then President, recalled that in its earliest days the Club played in fields on either side of Waldegrave Road close to Elmfield House. The fields were owned by a local butcher who grazed his cattle there and, in consequence, the pitches were not all that might be desired. This was not unusual for a village club because a prepared wicket in the modern sense was unknown in those days.
In the match accounts which follow, it must be assumed that where it is stated that a match was played on the Teddington ‘ground’ it means the ground near to Elmfield House mentioned by Mr Barton. That something better was needed seems to have been recognised because some ‘home’ matches were played at the Grove, The Adelaide, The Clarence and the Cumberland. The last cannot be identified, but may be a misprint for ‘common’ land.
Up to about 1820, stumps would still have been pitched by the visiting captain, obviously choosing a wicket which would suit his own bowlers, remembering that his men would also have to bat on it. In 1828, the MCC (then called the Mary-la-bonne Club) after much controversy over many years, finally permitted round-arm bowling and altered the Law to read “The ball shall be bowled, if it be thrown or jerked or if any part of the hand or arm be above the elbow at the time of delivery, the umpire shall call ‘no ball’.”
Thus when the Club first began to play in the early 1820’s, under-arm bowling was still in vogue, although there was probably some round-arm bowling with the connivance of the umpires.
The Over still consisted of four balls and the stumps were 24” high and 7” wide compared with the present day 28” x 9”.
In the 1820’s, breeches were giving way to white trousers, and buckle belts were becoming more common than sashes. Shoes had been discarded in favour of black or brown boots. Shirts were still coloured; common colours being black, blue or red with a pattern of stripes or spots or a check. Teams tended to be uniform in dress, particularly sponsored teams.
Because bowlers no longer bowled ‘grubbers’ the curved bat had been given up but although now straight, it would have been of uniform thickness (i.e. no bulge at the ‘drive’). Bats were not always spliced but ash handles (obviously spliced) were coming into fashion. It was not until 1853 that cane handles were first introduced. Rubber coverings for bat handles were as yet unknown.
Pads or skeleton guards were first used in 1836 although it is doubtful whether they would have been common in village cricket for some years after that. Shin guards, worn under the trousers were, however, usual and probably also worn when fielding as outfields were pretty rough.
The tall hat of black or white beaver was in the 1820’s giving way to a kind of Breton cap but it was a long time before it was given up.
The pitches were still rough, but getting better and the bowlers were no longer dominating the game. Nevertheless, it was still common foe each side to play two innings in a single day. It was the time of village cricket as described by Mary Russell Mitford (1787 – 1855) in “Our Village” published between 1824 and 1832.
The Club was a meeting place for the Teddington gentry, probably presided over by the Vicar, but there were no class distinctions when it came to playing or to holding office in the Club. Distinctions however were observed when recording events in the press or in the Minutes of Meetings. In the latter, the Minute Book shows that the ‘gentry’ were always distinguished by the title ‘Esq’ whilst others were ‘Mr’ but in all other respects, relations were on equal terms.
When the Teddington Town Club was formed in 1893, this distinction was still being observed to some extent as the Club began to be known locally as Teddington ‘Gents’ and still is on occasions.
Bell’s Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, to give this weekly newspaper its full name, began publication on Sunday 3rd March 1822. Cricket match reports were an early feature, although most of the sporting news then was devoted to prize fighting and horse racing. There were also accounts of fox hunting, stag hunting, otter hunting, bear baiting, cockfighting, pigeon and partridge shooting, sailing and rowing matches, knurr and spell and in fact any sport or game the result of which could be the subject of a wager. The names of the protagonists were given and odds on the result were quoted. All in two and a half pages of a four page weekly. We were truly a sporting and gambling nation.
The first Teddington match recorded in Bell’s Life was contained in the issue of 12th August 1827 when the following appeared:
“Hampton Court; 1st innings 43; 2nd ditto 48 – total 91
Teddington ; 1st innings 45; 2nd ditto 48 – total 93
Teddington won with four wickets to go down. The fielding was excellent on both sides. The return match will be played on 21st inst. at Teddington.”
The account of the return was not published.
The next recorded match was in the issue of 24th August 1828 when the following appeared:
“A match was played Monday last (18th inst.) on Cato’s Hill, Esher, between eleven gentlemen of Esher and eleven of Teddington for twenty-two sovereigns a side and was decided as follows:
Esher : 1st innings 219; 2nd ditto 48 – total 267
Teddington ; 1st innings 38; 2nd ditto 14 – total 52
Esher won by 215 runs. Messrs. Wood and J Bristow (of the Esher) played in their best style and succeeded in putting the greater part of their opponents out before they could obtain above a run or two and it was principally owing to their fine bowling that the Teddington gents cut so poor a figure.”
Teddington had to wait over a hundred years before this defeat was avenged by a similar margin.
On 10th August Teddington played Ham and won by 36 runs but no details were given.
The next report concerns a match against Barnes on Monday 31st August 1829. This was played on Barnes Green between eleven players of Barnes and eleven players of Teddington and Ham for 22 sovereigns a side and decided in favour of Barnes as follows:
“Barnes ; 1st innings 71; 2nd ditto 44 – total 115
Teddington ; 1st innings 25; 2nd ditto 34 – total 59
Barnes won by 56 runs. The return match will be played on the Cumberland ground Teddington tomorrow (7th inst.).”
The Cumberland ground cannot be traced but it may be a misprint for “Common” ground. Details of the return match were not published. It is noticeable that Teddington appeared somewhat dilatory in sending accounts of their home matches to the paper which from time to time complains of this and also of the inaccuracy with which many reports were submitted.
On 19th September 1830, Bell’s Life reported a match with Wimbledon as follows:
“Eleven players of Teddington, Surrey (!) on Monday (13th inst.) entered the field to compete against eleven from Wimbledon, Putney and Merton and an excellent day’s play took place. The following is the result of the match:
Wimbledon ; 1st innings 42; 2nd ditto 103 – total 145
Teddington ; 1st innings 102; 2nd ditto 44 – total 146 winning with six wickets to go down.”
The venue was not stated.
After this last entry, there was no further reference to Teddington until the issue of 26th July 1835 when the following account was published:
“TEDDINGTON AND BARNES
On Monday last (20th inst.) a match was played between Teddington and Barnes in the Grove of A. Barclays Esq. in Teddington, which was won by the Teddington party. The following was the score:
Teddington ; 1st innings 20; 2nd ditto 107 – total 127
Barnes ; 1st innings 47; 2nd ditto 34 – total 81, Teddington winning by 46.
The superior bowling of Roseblade in the first innings rather damped the spirits of Teddington and their ultimate success could be attributed to their excellent fielding and the superior batting of Coltman. At the conclusion of the match, the parties dined at the Clarence Arms where an admirable ‘spread’ was provided by Brown, the host.”
The match was played for £20 a side. The Grove was an estate lying on the west side of the Twickenham Road. Alexander Barclay was a wax candle manufacturer whose factory was on land between his home and Waldegrave Road. Later in the same month, the following description of the return match was printed:
“The return match between the Teddington and Barnes Clubs came off on Barnes Green on Tuesday last (4th August) and was decided as follows:
Barnes ; 1st innings 106; 2nd ditto 65 – total 171
Teddington ; 1st innings 21 ; 2nd ditto 56 – total 77 with 5five wickets down when they gave up the match.
The parties sat down to an excellent dinner at the Sun Inn and the Teddington gentlemen departed highly delighted with the cordial reception they had received.”
There were two other matches in August that year. Both were against Twickenham. The first was not reported but the following was printed in reference to the second:
“The second match between the Junior Clubs of Teddington and Twickenham came off at Teddington on Wednesday last (19th August) and terminated in favour of Twickenham.
Teddington ; 1st innings 45; 2nd ditto 46 – total 91
Twickenham ; 1st innings 42; 2nd ditto 51 – total 93 and three wickets to spare”.
In Bell’s Life for 21st August 1836, the following was reported:
“KINGSTON AND TEDDINGTON
A match was played at Kingston between that parish with three players given and the parish of Teddington with five players given. It was an excellent match and was eventually won by Kingston by 22 runs. The scores were:
Kingston ; 1st innings 63; 2nd ditto 48 – total 111
Teddington ; 1st innings 29; 2nd ditto 60 – total 89”.
It may be significant that Teddington needed five ‘given’ players for this match as there is no reference to the Club in Bell’s Life for the years 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840 and 1841. It suggests that in 1836 when the match against Kingston was played, the Club might have been on the point of being disbanded. It was possible in an effort to restart the Club – if it had in fact been disbanded – that the following match was played. It was reported in Bell’s Life of 4th September 1842.
“THE TWICKENHAM ALBION AND TEDDINGTON ADELAIDE CLUBS
played a match on Twickenham Green on Tuesday last (30th August) which was won by the former by 18 runs… The scores were:
Twickenham ; 1st innings 28; 2nd ditto 80 – total 108
Teddington ; 1st innings 33; 2nd ditto 57 – total 90”
As The Adelaide is a well known public house in Park Road, it is possible that this was a match between customers of the two pubs.
There is no further reference to Teddington until the issue of 28th September when the following appeared:
THE TEDDINGTON AND KINGSTON CLUBS
played their return match on Wednesday last (24th inst.) on the Teddington ground and after some good play on both sides, the score stood as follows when darkness put an end to play:
Kingston ; 1st innings 50; 2nd ditto 50 – total 100
Teddington ; 1st innings 68”
As BST did not exist in 1845, it would have been dark at 6pm. The next Teddington match recorded in Bell’s Life was:
“BUSHY PARK AND TEDDINGTON
A match was played in the Grove, Teddington on Thursday 9th July between the above which was decided in favour of the latter by thirty runs after a well-contested game. The scores were:
Teddington 41 and 50 – total 91 of which Powell obtained 4 and 13, Nicholson 2 and 11, Naish 4 and 2, Potter 0 and 9, Woodlatch 0 and 3, Porter 17 and 1, Reed 6 and 7, Stevens 7 and 2, Byes etc. 1 and 2
Bushy Park 24 and 37 – total 61 of which Bates scored 7 and 9, Smith 2 and 5, Jones 0 and 4, H. Beale 5 and 0, E. Beale 1 and 2, Hawes 0 and 6, Harvey 6 and 0, Bennett 1 and 4, Byes etc. 2 and 7.
The parties afterwards sat down to an admirable spread at the Clarence Arms.”
It is interesting to note that there were only eight players on each side. There were no further matches recorded until 1850 when Bell’s Life published the following:
GENTLEMEN v. PLAYERS OF TEDDINGTON
This match was played on the Teddington ground, on Thursday week (21st August) when the former won, with 3 wickets to go down. Scores:
Gentlemen 47 and 42 – total 89; O. Penrhyn Esq. scored (not out) 16 and 14, Williamson Esq. 12 and 0, Kempster Esq. 4 and (not out) 6, H. Devon Esq. 1 and 6, Byes etc. 8 and 7.
Players 44 and 34 – total 78; Nicholson marked 0 and 6, Laurence 6 and (not out) 0, R. Rice 0 and 5, Jones 12 and 2, Woodlatch 10 and 2, J. Rice (not out) 0 and 9, Byes etc. 6 and 6.”
Note that the individual scores do not add up to the totals for the innings and it is possible that the score sheets were not complete.
There were no published accounts of Teddington matches in Bell’s Life after the above for the years 1851 to 1857 inclusive.
The Surrey Comet commenced publication on 5th August 1854 and in the third issue of 23rd September that year it published the result of a match between Teddington and Kensington Park at Teddington. It was a single innings match and the scores were:
Teddington 148 + 27 byes = 175
Kensington Park (including byes) = 31
The results of cricket matches were published at irregular intervals in the Surrey Comet. National news was given a greater prominence than local news and there was little space for news from villages like Teddington. The paper seemed to be modelling itself on national newspaper lines. In particular the Crimean War was engaging most attention and much space was devoted to news from Sebastopol. In fact, it was nearly four years before another Teddington cricket report appeared and during this period reports of matches elsewhere in the district were also few. This was the time when John and Robert Barton were playing for the Club in fields on either side of Waldegrave Road and with the general improvement of cricket grounds it was becoming clear that Teddington needed something better. Nevertheless, whenever it played the Club was giving a good account of itself.
It is interesting to note that, unlike the present day, few matches were played on Saturdays. There could have been several reasons for this. Saturday was then a working day for all but the gentry and, apart from Sunday, one day was as good as another. It also suited the clergy, who were great supporters of the game, to leave Saturday free for the preparation of the Sunday Sermon. A further reason was that, with comparatively few matches, when one was arranged it became an event – and a holiday – for the two villages concerned and it was to the advantage of all, villagers and gentry alike, that the weekend should be avoided.
In the Surrey Comet of Saturday 9th July 1859, it was reported that a match had taken place between Surbiton and Teddington on the previous Wednesday. The composition and phrasing of these reports was typically Victorian and not always accurate as the following quotation shows:
“Play was commenced at about half past eleven by the gentlemen of Teddington sending Messrs. Nicholls and Phillips to the wickets to the bowling of Messrs. E Lipscomb and Lichfield; after obtaining three runs Mr Phillips retired from the wicket and Mr Goldingham joined Mr Nicholls, but did not remain long, being sent back too the tent after contribution five to the score. Mr Vernon now appeared at the wicket and it soon became apparent that the play was about to ‘settle’. Mr Nicholls having from the first batted in his usual careful and telling style and Mr Vernon getting hold of the bowling at once, the score rapidly increased and some fine hits were made until when ‘hitting out’ at a slow Mr Nicholls was unfortunately bowled by Mr Witham after scoring 36. The remainder of the innings was completed with much success, the total score being 214 towards which Messrs. Nicholls, Vernon, Barton and Holt more particularly contributed, having scored over 30 each by careful play. The Surbitonians then appeared at the wicket, to the bowling of Messrs. Nicholls and Pout which was steady and true and for some time but few runs were made. In the first over, the first wicket fell to Mr Nicholls then a stand was made by Messrs. Thompson and Lipscomb and the score steadily increased. Many fine hits were made and we most particularly notice one from Mr Bennett who regardless of the consequences drove a fine straight ball from Mr Nicholls completely out of the field. The small score obtained viz. 57 on the side, is to be attributed chiefly to the steady bowling of Messrs. Nicholls and Pout, the latter gentleman having taken several wickets in fine style. The game as will be seen was decided by the first innings in favour of Teddington. We may remark that there appeared but one drawback to the sport, and that was the almost total absence of the fair sex upon the ground – it is considered ‘improper’ among the Surbiton ladies to honour the amusement of the ruder sex with their countenance.”
It is interesting to note that the bowler was not given credit for wickets unless they were ‘bowled’, although MCC had begun to do so in 1836. The ‘follow on’ Law was, however, being observed i.e. when a side was 100 runs in arrears at the end of the first innings, they could be obliged to follow on by the other Captain. This alteration to the Laws was passed in 1835.
On 3rd September 1859, the Surrey Comet published a long article about the Teddington Cricket Club reporting the results of three matches which had been played on the Teddington ground earlier in the season. No dates were given. The scores were:
Teddington v. Isleworth
Teddington ; 1st innings 58; 2nd ditto 74 – total 132
Isleworth ; 1st innings 77; 2nd ditto 33 – total 125
Teddington won by seven runs.
Teddington v. Mr Wood’s Eleven
Mr Wood’s Eleven ; 1st innings 60; 2nd ditto 62 – total 122
Teddington ; 1st innings 100; 2nd ditto 25 – total 125
Teddington won by three runs.
Teddington v. Upper Tooting
Teddington ; 1sr innings 118
Upper Tooting ; 1st innings 53; 2nd ditto 59 – total 112
Teddington won by an innings and six runs.
The writer of the article went on to say:
“We understand that should the Club in its third year of existence meet with the support which we consider it is fairly entitled to…it is the intention of the Committee of Management to undertake considerable improvement to the condition of the ground – the accommodation for visitors as well as players – and in the general arrangements of the field generally, improvements which have hitherto been suffered to remain from the want of funds.”
This report puts the date of foundation of the Club at 1857 but as scores of Teddington matches had already been published in 1827, this is clearly incorrect but it does lend support to the likelihood that, in its early days, the Club was not established on a firm footing maybe due to a lack of organisation – bearing in mind that it was a village club – and a strong enthusiastic character was needed. Often it was the local parson who gave the lead as the average villager was illiterate in the early 19th century. If he moved to another parish and his successor was not keen to take on the commitment, it is easy to understand how a gap in the life of the Club occurred.
The next report of a Teddington match comes from the Surrey Comet of Saturday 19th July 1862. This stated that the Club had been reformed and could be considered as being “in its infancy, but from the spirit of its members – among whom are many influential gentlemen – it is expected that next year it will be in a position to accept any challenge from the neighbourhood.” The match was called a ‘friendly’ and consisted of two teams chosen from members of the Club and led by a Mr Lemon and a Mr C Tilbury.
Mr Lemon’s side won by 61 runs. This is the first time the Rev. Daniel Trinder’s name has appeared. He had come to the village in 1857 as a vicar of St. Mary’s. He was a man of great energy who seemed to have given his life and personal fortune to improving the conditions in the village. During his 21 years as a parish priest in Teddington, he built the new church of St Peter and Paul to cater for the increasing population, he enlarged the school buildings and he restored his own parish church of St. Mary’s. He was also President of the Cricket Club in 1863, but when he assumed that office is not known. He moved to Highgate in 1878 and died in Gibraltar. There is a memorial to him in St. Mary’s churchyard which is inscribed as follows:
+ TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF DANIEL TRINDER MA PRIEST VICAR OF TEDDINGTON FROM 1857 TO 1878 THROUGH WHOSE ENERGY THE PARISH CHURCH WAS RESTORED THE CHURCH OF SS PETER AND PAUL BUILT AND THE SCHOOLS ENLARGED THIS CROSS IS ERECTED BY PARISHIONERS AND FRIENDS NOV. 1888. HE FELL ASLEEP APRIL 2 1882 AT GIBRALTAR WHERE HIS BODY RESTS. +
The village had much for which to thank Daniel Trinder and it says a lot that his parishioners remembered him with this memorial ten years after he left the parish.
The Rev. Trinder was President of the Club until 1878 when he left the district. He does not appear to have played in many matches, probably due to his many preoccupations elsewhere. Mr Lemon who was captain of one side in the ‘friendly’ match was a baker, whose family, 100 years later, owned an elegant tea shop in Broad Street.
There was another match in 1862. On Wednesday 2nd July a match was played against a side which called itself “Fourteen of Red Lion Street, Holborn”. This included Mr Joseph Garrod, who lived in Teddington and six of his sons from Garrod Brothers of Holborn. The match was played at the Clarence Arms. The reason for not playing on the usual ground in Waldegrave Road was probably due to the building of the railway extension from Twickenham to Kingston, planned to be opened in 1863.
The scores were:
XIV of Red Lion Square ; 1st innings 52; 2nd ditto 39 – total 91
Teddington ; 1st innings 123 (Lemon 49, C Tilbury 23 not out)
The Teddington side was A Hammerton, Wernham, Ericker, C Tilbury, Kemp, Edwards, Roberts, E Lemon, R Hammerton, Rice.
On 2nd August 1862, the Surrey Comet reported that the new bridge over what was to be the railway extension had been opened on 29th July and stated that “complaints have already reached us that the structure generally mars the picturesque appearance of the upper portion of the village and that only a few days experience confirms the opinion that it occasioned very great inconvenience to the public”. The railway line itself had not then been built but clearly when it had been completed, including Teddington Station, both the Waldegrave Road and the Clarence Arms grounds would no longer be available.
The coming of the railway had been a common topic of conversation for some years and members of the Club had been wondering what could be done. Eventually, Robert Barton had suggested that they should apply for permission to make a ground in Bushy Park and to their surprise, the application was granted. The application was granted by the Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Woods and Forests.