Cricket Club

A brief history of Chenies & Latimer Cricket Club 1878 – 1978

The first mention of cricket in the local area that can be traced is in writings describing Latimer Flower Show, where “ladies dressed in crinolines wandered with their gentleman past the Cricket Field” and therefore this date of 1878 has been accepted as the start of a Cricket Club in Latimer. The earliest club written records for Chenies CC have been lost, and so it has been generally accepted that Latimer Cricket Club was the older club. What is certain is that there was considerable rivalry between the two clubs, representing the Dukes of Bedford and Lord Chesham.

The presence of a cricket ground in Chenies at Great House Farm and near to the manor house and church is shown on several maps dating between 1882 – 1960 suggest that cricket was played here, though there is no similar cricket ground shown at Latimer.

Hertfordshire Sheet XXXVIII
Surveyed: 1873 to 1877, Published: 1882 to 1883 showing the cricket ground adjacent to Great House Farm

Rev Dunne says in his biography of the Rev Wriothesley Russell, ‘The living room in the manor hosue was often used for cricket dinners in the time of the Rev Wriothesley Russell‘.

Records are held by the club in the form of Minutes which start on December 3rd 1898. Unfortunatly earlier minute books have been lost but records for Chenies Cricket Club as it was then up to the present day provide very interesting reading. There appeared to be an amalgamation – in the red corner Lord Chesham President of Latimer and in the Green corner the Russell family from the Duke of Bedford!

In 1900 the Secretary reported that “during the season 20 games had been played, 10 had been won, 8 lost and 2 drawn. Receipts to date amounted to £12.13.9 ½d ., the expenditure to £12.8.0d. leaving a surplus of £5.9 ½ . Chenies had a good start in their first season of the 20th Century!

In 1909 the proposal was made to amalgamate the two clubs with the Latimer Cricket Club having a balance in hand of £1.6.1d and Chenies £2.13.3d. The Chenies and Latimer Cricket Club was born and the President was Lord Chesham with the Duchess of Bedford, Lady Chesham, Lady Ela Russell and Mr. Russell as Patrons. The Club thrived up to the 1914-1918 war when it was sadly interrupted, but on January 16th 1919 the Club was reformed and the ground alongside St Michael’s Church (named the Pightle) was used. The Club colours were to be Amber and Blue.

In 1926 the subscriptions were fixed at 5 shillings per person and 2/6d for any members under 18 and the first sub committee was formed for team selection. The 2nd World War interrupted play for 5 years there was understandably such a poor attendance in 1941 that the Club was close to disappearance. However with a spirit that only cricketers can muster it survived and moved to its present site which caused a renewal of interest. In the 1950’s with the help of A.E. Life, Mr. P.H.Partington and Mr. H. Clayton new members were bought in. In the early 1960’s the ground was purchased and the Club went from strength to strength. For over 80 years the Bedford Arms had been the meeting place for committees but the new pavilion provided an extended club house, a bar was installed and the Club became their own masters.

The beautiful ground with the excellent table and facilities is a fitting memorial to all the hard work and dedication that has been put into it by members, Patron, Vice Presidents, Presidents and friends who have given their services to the club over a span of 100 years.