About this Event
Cricket in Yorkshire Cricket in Yorkshire: How did it all begin?
In the 18th and early 19th centuries, cricket in Yorkshire lagged well behind that played in London and the south-east, where it had been popular for many decades. Drawing on two of his books, covering the period from the 1750s to the 1890s, Jeremy Lonsdale will discuss how cricket emerged in Yorkshire and grew in popularity throughout the 19th century.
Against the background of significant changes in English society in the 18th century, the talk will highlight: the slow spread of the game in Yorkshire before 1820; the rapid development of commercial cricket in Sheffield in the 1820s; and the increased linking-up of cricketers from different parts of the county in the 1830s following improvements in transport. It also covers other aspects of the game’s growth, including changes in how it was played to make it more of a spectacle; the opening of several enclosed grounds; and the growing programme of hard-fought matches between major clubs in the 1840s. A lack of funds and leadership in the game, and insufficient high-quality players slowed developments, but by mid-century, cricket was an important part of Yorkshire life.
Cricket spread rapidly during the Victorian era. Growing expectations of what was required to be a high-performing local club, allied to the increasingly competitive spirit in which the game was played, meant clubs sought greater support from within their local communities to fund the game. Cricket became increasingly visible in everyday life – in the press, in schools and even in the courts - so that by 1900, all the foundations were in place for Yorkshire cricket to be the strongest in the country.
The speaker – Jeremy Lonsdale studied history at King’s College, London. He has written five books on different periods of the history of cricket in Yorkshire.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Leeds Library, 18 Commercial Street, Leeds, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00