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Lords Cricket Ground, London

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In the latter part of the eighteenth century cricket was becoming popular in London. As the Industrial Revolution began people seemed to want idealised reminders of rural life. Cricket, originally played in rural communities in southern England, was one of these reminders. With London's aristocrats taking up cricket, the game became highly exclusive. Many of London's upper class sportsmen belonged to the Star and Garter club in Pall Mall, and they would play cricket at White Conduit Fields, beneath what is now King's Cross Station. But this was a public area. The lords did not like this, and wanted their own private ground. Entrepreneur Thomas Lord saw an opportunity. This enterprising young man had learnt cricket in Norfolk, and was trying to make his fortune in the wine trade. But it was while working as an attendant at White Conduit Fields that he spotted what he hoped would turn out to be a better opportunity. He knew the London aristocrats wanted their own ground, and offered his services in providing one. Lord leased some land in the Marylebone area of London, put a high fence around it, and started organising cricket matches. The first match took place in 1787, with Lord himself playing. Within a year Lord's employers had formed themselves into the Marylebone Cricket Club. The original plan was for the fence around the ground to keep people out. But Lord was a business man, and was soon using the fence to control access to cricket matches, and other sporting events that people would pay to see. (See A Social History of English Cricket by Derek Birley.)

 

Things went well in Marylebone until 1809, when a rent rise forced Lord to look elsewhere for his ground. Lord enclosed some land at the top of Lisson Grove in St John's Wood, but the gentlemen of the MCC were not impressed and refused to move. Lord let out his new ground to the local St John's Wood Club, and tried to find some land which the gentlemen would approve of. Uncertainty continued until 1813 when a new canal in honour of George the prince regent was built right through the middle of the Lisson Grove ground. Lord used the £4000 he was given in compensation to buy another ground in St John's Wood. The original turf was transferred from Marylebone to the new Lords, which in an extended form is the Lords that we see today.

Lords houses what it claims is the world's oldest sports museum. The original ashes urn is on display along with kit used by famous players, and a gallery of cricket portraits.

Opening Times: The museum is open on match days during the summer, and also as part of the Lords guided tour. The tour takes in the media centre, the Long Room - a cricketing art gallery - and the Lords pub.

Tours are available Monday to Friday 12 midday and 2pm and weekends 10am, 12 midday and 2pm.

Address: Lord's Cricket Ground, St John's Wood, London NW8 8QN

Directions: Lords is just off St John's Wood Road in St Johns Wood, north London. Click here for an interactive map centred on Lords.

Access: Special times are set aside for disabled access.

 

 

Contact:

museum telephone: 020 7616 8595

general telephone: 020 7616 8656

tour bookings: 020 7616 8500

fax for bookings: 020 7266 3825

e-mail: communication@mcc.org.uk.

web site www.mcc.org.uk

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