Updated 29 Jun 2013

WIRKSWORTH Parish Records 1600-1900

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Cricket in Wirksworth

In 2007 Wirksworth Cricket Club will celebrate the match held 250 years ago in September 1757, when a Wirksworth team played against eleven men from Sheffield. Wirksworth men were the first to play cricket in a recorded match in Derbyshire.
Roy Pearce has written a book about Wirksworth's cricket history, called "Gentlemen and Players, Wirksworth Cricketers 1757-1914", more details below. Roy has sent most of the history on this page, thanks Roy.

W.G.Grace visiting Wirksworth, early 1900s.

XIV of Wirksworth & District v All England XI
Played at Wirksworth 1873

L Barrow | M McIntyre | J Flint | G Frost | W Mycroft | C Hanson | H Horrobin | J Platts | W Wrigley | E Tatlow | J Frost | R Allsop
J Palmer | T Foster | S Richardson | R P Smith

Wirksworth Cricket team in 1911

Top row (left to right): |H E Bowmer |E Gandy |C Pashley |J E Cooke |A Killer |
N P Wilshire |B Hilditch |W A Bowmer| Bottom row (left to right): |W H Buxton |
A Hatfield |G H Bowmer |Dr.F M Seal |T Flint|
Wirksworth Cricket team in 1930

Alderwasley Park C.C. 1910

Alf Walker | Mr Peacock | George Harrison |
- Ashmen | Arthur Petts | F W Bunting | Ted Alsop | Sam Harris | Frank Walker | Arthur Lee | Mr Workman |
Jack Petts | Reg Twigg | Donald Twigg | Eddowes | Bob Cowlishaw | Noah Wilkinson | Hedley Bennet |
Bert Lee | George Petts |

Roy Pearce writes:
In 2007 Wirksworth Cricket Club will celebrate the match held 250 years ago in September 1757, when a Wirksworth team played against eleven men from Sheffield. Wirksworth men were the first to play cricket in a recorded match in Derbyshire.

From the Derby Mercury 9th September 1757
On Thursday last a match at Cricket was played at Brampton Moor by eleven young men from Wirksworth against the same number from Sheffield for fifty pounds a side. At the latter end of the game the Wirksworth players were a considerable number of notches ahead of the others when a dispute arising about one of the Sheffield players being out some of them desisted playing again, whereby it was left undetermined, but we hear it has since been given in favour of the Wirksworth players and the money has been paid them. The match was played with the greatest spirit and activity on both sides which afforded the highest satisfaction to a larger concourse of persons of all ranks than were ever seen in this County on a like occasion.

This game was played long before there was an organised club in Wirksworth. We know the club was ‘established’ in 1849 with Francis Hurt as our first president. It is possible that the Hurt family was involved in the 1757 match. Detailed reports have survived of two games played in 1849. There is also reference to a game against Matlock Bath in 1832. It is clear that a town team had been set up at this time.

The Derby and Chesterfield Reporter tells of the two matches against Matlock Bath in 1830, the first won by Wirksworth by three runs with a winning total of 75 for the two innings. They lost the return by one run - 64-63 being the totals for two innings each side.

Significantly we read ‘the Wirksworth players have obstacles to contend with arising from their infancy in the game, having only been established two months……………….’

So Wirksworth men first played in 1757 and took the field as an organised team by 1830. It needed the enthusiasm and ability of Francis Hurt to ‘establish’ the club as we know it.

The club was a powerful influence in Derbyshire cricket in Victorian times with the president EM Wass an influential founding member of the county club in 1870. He also organised the three visits to the town by the All England touring team in 1866, 1868 and 1870. It is said that WG Grace played at the club. Several Wirksworthians played for Derbyshire in the period up to the first world war and we provided in WT Taylor a long serving secretary to the county club - he held the office, amazingly, from 1908 to 1959

The club plans a series of events to celebrate a notable anniversary. Wisden has been informed. A commemorative booklet will be published and we hope a Sheffield team will come and play a return fixture.

Roy Pearce July 2006

PRESS RELEASE from Wirksworth Cricket Club

250 YEARS of WIRKSWORTH CRICKET

Not many people know that Wirksworth men were the first to play cricket in Derbyshire.

Wirksworth Cricket Club is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the match reported in the Derbyshire Mercury in September 1753 and Roy Pearce, the club historian has written a book to mark the occasion.

From the Derby Mercury.
On Thursday last a match at Cricket was played at Brampton Moor by eleven young men from Wirksworth against the same number from Sheffield for fifty pounds aside. At the latter end of the game the Wirksworth players were a considerable number of notches ahead of the others when a dispute arising about one of the Sheffield players being out some of them desisted playing again, whereby it was left undetermined, but we hear it has since been given in favour of the Wirksworth players and the money has been paid them. The match was played with the greatest spirit and activity on both sides which afforded the highest satisfaction to a larger concourse of persons of all ranks than were ever seen in this County on a like occasion.

Who were these Wirksworthians? Why did they play a Sheffield team? Who put up the enormous stake? How did they travel to Chesterfield? What kind of cricket was played in Derbyshire 250 years ago? These and many other questions are investigated by Roy Pearce in an affectionate and well- researched book. The story is rooted in Wirksworth and will interest all Derbyshire people, not just cricketers and historians.

Roy Pearce says.
‘The book traces the early history of the club, beginning with this remarkable match. Wirksworth CC was officially established in 1849 and in Victorian times became was an amazingly fashionable and prosperous club with society membership. The list for 1867 survives and records over a hundred members. The famous All England team of wandering professionals visited the town, playing three day games, in 1866, ‘68 and ‘70 and the whole town was in holiday mood - 3,000 spectators filled the ground to see the great players. The efforts of those eminent Victorians Francis Hurt, Edward Wass and Rev WH Arkwright, distinguished men in their own fields, cricket-mad presidents and wealthy benefactors of the club, supported some famous players (Joe Flint, a professional bowler, took six for seven against Notts in 1873) and set the club at the top of Derbyshire cricket.’

GENTLEMEN and PLAYERS, WIRKSWORTH CRICKETERS 1757-1914 was launched at the Wirksworth CC Winter Warmer in the Memorial Hall on Saturday 24th February. The book is published by the Pennine Cricket Project at Huddersfield University. . You can order by post from Roy Pearce, 3 Summer Lane, Wirksworth DE4 4EB (01629/822817).

Roy Pearce writes

WIRKSWORTH CRICKET CLUB 1867 MEMBERSHIP LIST

When in 1998 I was researching the club history 
I discovered minute books going back to 1867.  
I photocopied the first page in which the members 
for that year are recorded in fine copperplate.   
As I revisit the list at the county records office 
in 2011 I note that the residences of the final 
section of non resident members have evaded the
photocopier. Otherwise I have copied as they are 
written; only occasionally did the writing baffle me.  
I shall endeavour to find out more about these 
distinguished members of our club. 

President.
1. Wass Edward Lea

Vice President.
2. Harward Arthur Wirksworth 

Committee.
3. Wall Richard Wirksworth 
4. Goodwin Henry Wigwell Grange
5. Kingdon J F Wirksworth 
6. Evans William Wirksworth 
7. Marsden George Wirksworth 
8. Wright Charles Wirksworth 
9. Allsop Anthony Wensley
10. North James Wirksworth 

Honorary Secretary.
11. Billyeald James Steeple Grange

Resident members
12. Wood NP The Hall, Wirksworth 
13. Arkwright Alfred The Bank , Wirksworth 
14. Hubbersty Philip St John’s Street, Wirksworth 
15. Cox M Veterinary Surgeon  Wirksworth 
16. Cantrell M Wirksworth 
17. Hubbersty Albert St John Street, Wirksworth 
18. Arkwright Frederick Bank, Wirksworth 
19. Smith Rev JJ Coldwell Street Wirksworth 
20. Hodgkinson George Solicitor, Wirksworth 
21. Wall James Bank Buildings, Wirksworth 
22. Richardson Richard Bank Buildings, Wirksworth 
23. Richardson Frederick Bank Buildings  Wirksworth 
24. Marsh William Market Place,Wirksworth 
25. Newton Thos Jun Maltster , Wirksworth 
26. Walker William Coldwell Street Wirksworth 
27. Frost George Jun North End Wirksworth 
28. Frost John  North End Wirksworth 
29. Arkwright Augustus Bank Wirksworth 
30. James John  at Mr Harwards Wirksworth 
31. Baxter James Church Yard Wirksworth 
32. Walker Charles Surgeon Wirksworth 
33. Webb William Surgeon Wirksworth 
34. Wilson William St John Street Wirksworth 
35. Street Benjamin Coldwell Street Wirksworth 
36. Tomlinson William Market Place Wirksworth 
37. Hall William L Market place Wirksworth 
38. Ogdon Samuel Market Place Wirksworth 
39. Wing Matthew St John Street Wirksworth 
40. Beesley Henry Coldwell street Wirksworth 
41. Tatlow Benjamin Market Place Wirksworth 
42. Pearson Wm jun Wirksworth 
43. Buckley junior Advertiser Office Wirksworth 
44. Brittain Charles at Wright & Sons Wirksworth  
45. Bettle James at Wilson & Sons
46. Allsop John Postman
47. Findler  James Market Place
48. Smith John at Mr Hubberstys Wirksworth 
49. Hawley George Wirksworth 
50. Hawley Abraham Wirksworth 
51. Allen George North End Wirksworth 
52. Potter James North End  Wirksworth 
53. Steeples Samuel North End  Wirksworth 
54. Sharpe James Police Station House Wirksworth 
55. Pickard James North End  Wirksworth 
56. Marrriott HJ North End Wirksworth 
57. Bingham D St John Street  Wirksworth 
58. Stone Joseph Coldwell Street Wirksworth 
59. Wall Charles Wirksworth 
60. Robinson  Jno? Wright & Son  Wirksworth 
61. Macbeth A Steeple Grange
62. Loose Mr The  School Wirksworth 
63. Bacon Jno Derby Road Wirksworth 
64. Trotter Dr Dr Webbs Wirksworth 
65. Sperry  ? Coldwell Street Wirksworth 
66.  Tomlinson Edwd Wirksworth 
67. Allsop Jas Wirksworth 
68. Allsop Rich Wirksworth 
69. Ogdon Frank Sohler Wirksworth 
70. Watterson Geo Wirksworth 
71. Smith ? Wirksworth
72. 
73. Garside Walker Wirksworth 


Non Resident members.
1. Radford Childers The Dale Darley
2. Hurt Albert F The Hall, Alderwasley
3. Wass Raffael Lea
4. Leacroft Rev Chas Parsonage Brackenfield
5. Tatlow James Jeremiah Millers Green
6. Walker William jun Lea
7. Evans Blackwall Blackwall
8. Walker George Lea
9. Parkin  ? jun Idridgehay
10. Wheatcroft George H Millers Green
11. Wheatroft N Millers Green
12. Wheatcroft Joseph Millers Green
13. Barrow  ? Matlock Bath
14. Bowmer John  Matlock Bath
15. Pearson Charles Matlock Bath
16. Ellicock George Matlock Bath
17. Walthall WH Alton
18. Milnes Ernest Alton
19. ????? John Idridgehay
20. Walker George
21. Fletcher
22. Mellor
23. Grimston
24. Royle George 
25. Hubberstey
26. Topham
27. Palmer WJ
28. Dalby Edward
29. Barton Joseph
30. Norman R
31. Allen Edward
32. Richardson.
33. Kirk
34. Marsh

Total 105:  
Committee 11; 
resident members 60;  
non resident members 34.

RP 28/09/11

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