Cooper's Field to Top Field

[anthony.brown]

A large square field off the Bedford Road is prominent on old maps of Hitchin. In April 1835, Mr Cooper, landlord of the Cricketers' Inn, converted the large field opposite his house into a 'most excellent cricket ground' (1).
As the Inn was already called 'The Cricketers' perhaps the field had experienced use as a cricket field before 1835? If so, is it possible that the cricketers' winter game of soccer had been played there (but I can find no record of that) ? The public area for all sports in Hitchin at the time, and for many years, was of course Butts Close. Cricket was also played on private estates like the Priory and Kings Walden Park.

On Monday 25th May 1835, the newly revived Hitchin Cricket Club played their 'first practice match', practice would continue 'every alternate Monday'. (2)
Membership of the Cricket Club was restricted to 'gentlemen amateurs' at this time. 'Peter' Delme Radcliffe, squire of the Priory Estate, led the regular revivals of the Club.

On 16th & 17th July 1835 Hitchin Cricket Club beat Chesterton (Cambridge) 'in one innings, with 41 runs to spare at Cooper's new cricket ground. (3)

At some point between 1841 and 1855, the Cricket Club left Cooper's Field, and returned to the public sports field on Butts Close, which by 1862 was in 'too bad a condition to be played upon'; and between 1862 and 1866 the club moved to their new ground in London Road, gifted them by 'Peter' Delme Radcliffe of the Priory.

It was not until about 1872/3 that the Hitchin Football Club would transfer their play to the Bedford Road Ground, and in about 1880 the ground was purchased by a local Trust. The Canaries still play there: the first club until 1908, the second until 1911, and the present incarnation 1928 to date.


(1) Bucks Gazette 11th April 1835
(2) ibid 30th May 1835
(3) ibid 25th July 1835


TO BE CONTINUED

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