Cricket, Lanhydrock & The Robartes

Members of Lanhydrock Cricket Club should take great pleasure and pride in their club which has a wealth of cricketing heritage unrivalled in the county.

Cricket at Lanhydrock can be traced back well over 150 years. In fact, it can be argued that the club and the Robartes family were the leading influence in the development of league and competitive cricket in Cornwall.

As far back as 1826 a reference was made in the West Briton regarding a match played at Lanhydrock.

"A match was played on Thursday last at the pleasure grounds at Lanhydrock between Thomas Agar-Robarte Esq. and a party of young gentlemen of the bodmin Club. There was some sharp running in the first innings but the match was easily won by the former party, with several wickets to go down. The Hon. Mrs. Agar and her friends were present."

This match was the start of the almost obsessive interest taken in cricket by the Robartes family that was to lastseveral generations. It is widely held belief that Thomas James Robarte was the first person in Cornwall to become a member of the prestigious MCC. It is Thomas we can thank for the current location of our cricket pitch. Its position is recorded as early as 1840 on the Tithe Map.

Robartes son Thomas Charles took to cricket in a big way and we look to him to have placed Lanhydrock at the forefront of Cornish cricket in the 19th century. In the cabinet in the museum at the main House, is Thomas Charles handwritten notebook of matches played during 1861 and 1862. Remembering that he was only 15 at the time, it is an enjoyable account of some of the matches played. Thomas Charles had his own team, consisting of friends and sons of estate workers to play against local village teams such as Luxulyan, Duloe and a curious sounding Team known as Bodmin Peep O' Day Boys - Don't ask!!!!

From reading his reports, what is interesting, is that they started their season a lot earlier than today. The first match of their season usually started at the beginnning of April and cricket continued to be played up until the first weekend in October.

There are a couple of entries which are quite entertaining which relate to the state of the pitch. On September 23rd 1862 and Octoner 7th 1862 the state of the wicket received numerous complaints as being very soft and having a somewhat dead and unresponsive feel. A trend that seemed to go on for 140 years!!!

Thomas then went on to describe an incident during the match played against Bodmin Old Club on September 23rd.

A certain C. Robartes faced a ghastly bowl from J. Burton and received a blow to his guilty(?) foot, which made it very hot for about 5 minutes. His mood remained black for the rest of the proceeding.

When continuing to look through the old score books I noted a rather splendid report of a match played against Liskeard on September 30th 1873. It reads.....

"Lanhydrock won the toss and elected to bowl first. We successfully bowled them all out for 29 runs. B. Edyvean having 5 wickets for only 11 conceded runs. Our innings made 185 with R.P Edyvean top scoring with 59.

The Liskeard 2nd innings was no better with them all being bowled out again for 29. R.W. Sanders having a fine bowl with 8 wickets for 12 runs.

We didindeed feel a little sympathy for one of their players Mr. Keast. He batted at 11 in their 1st innings but did not recieve a ball to face. We understand he made a comment to the captain that he deserved to play up the order. He duly agreed and had him open the innings. Mr. Sanders bowled him 1st ball. This caused consternation to the batsman and a great deal of meeriment to the other players and spectators."

Although Thomas Charles was 10 years older when he wrote that particular report, it shows a certain sense of humour that he was famous for. An attribute that would be most welcome in any era.

With thomas Charles taking lead role, cricket thrived at Lanhydrock in the summer months when he returned from school at Eton and then from Oxford University. He developed into a fine player and is credited with one of the first 100's scroed in a match in Cornwall. He scored 158 not out in a match against St Austell in 1864. The following year he encouraged the best town teams; Camboune, Redruth and St Austell to form together for a match against a selected team of his at Lanhydrock. This is believed an early attempt to form a Cornwall County Cricket Club.

In 1870 Thomas Charles was selected for a 'Cornwall 22' (modern day squad system?) to play the United North of England XI. This was a team of professional cricketers selected from the All England Club. Incidentially, this team photograph can be viewed in the Billiard Room.

The reason why I have made reference to the Robarte family, is that it demostrates what can be achieved with vision and dedication. It is these attributes that the club still needs today to ensure we continue to be able to play cricket at Lanhydrock, which in my opinion, is a setting second to none in the county.