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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