Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football, Golf & Sporting Memorabilia

To be held on Friday, Saturday & Sunday
21st, 22nd & 23rd March 2025

‘Hambledon v. England played on Broadhalfpenny Down’ 1908. Rare early original scorecard for the first match to be played on Broadhalfpenny Down in over 100 years, 10th- 12th September 1908, with complete printed scores. The England XII elected to bat first and were bowled out for 124, Francis Ford top scorer with 33, George Dennett 28. Jack Newman took 8/54 for Hambledon who then scored 277 thanks to a career best 114no by William Jephson and 59 from Teddy Wynyard. In the second innings the England XII fared better scoring 309 with contributions from George Leach (80), Arthur Roberts (69), Gilbert Jessop (48) and George Wilder (43). Newman took a further five wickets ending with match bowling figures of twelve wickets for 120 runs. Set 157 to win, Hambledon ended 158/6 to win by five wickets, C.B. Fry carrying his bat with 84no. Other notable players who took part in the match include A.E. Knight, E.H. Killick, J.T. Hearne, A.E. Trott, W.E. Astill (England), E.M. Sprot, C.B. Llewellyn, C.P. Mead (Hambeldon) etc. Printed notice to lower portion for ‘Luncheons & Teas provided in the Refreshment Tents at popular prices by Mr C. Salter, 135 High Street, Winchester’ and ‘See other side of card for match of 1777’. To verso an advertisement for the publication of ‘The Hambledon Men’ by E.V. Lucas, and a reproduction of the scorecard for the match ‘Hambledon v. All England’ of 18th June 1777. Printer unknown. 4.75”x7.25”. Minor foxing, otherwise in very good condition.
The cricket ground was the home venue for first-class matches organised by the Hambledon Club from 1753 to 1781. Immediately next to the ground is the Bat & Ball Inn, known as the ‘cradle of cricket’, whose landlord for ten years from 1762 to 1772 was Hambledon captain Richard Nyren. Broadhalfpenny Down continued in regular use by Hambledon/ Hampshire teams until 1781. At the end of that season, the Hambledon Club moved to Windmill Down closer to the village. The original ground fell into disuse through most of the nineteenth century and was converted to agriculture. Attempts were made to restore the ground with the result that this 1908 ‘Hambledon v England XI’ fixture was played as a commemorative match and featured numerous famous players including Hampshire cricketer Edward Whalley-Tooker, a descendant of a member of the original Hambledon Club. An unveiling of a granite memorial, erected to mark the site of the original cricket ground, was performed by E.M. Sprot, captain of Hampshire C.C.C. Following the match in 1908 the ground was reclaimed for farming. Whalley-Tooker set about the task of securing its permanent use for cricket and in 1925 it was restored to host cricket matches.

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