Itchin Stoke Down Explained

51.091°N -1.162°W

Ground:Itchin Stoke Down cricket ground
Location:near Alresford, Hampshire
Home Club:Alresford Cricket Club
Hambledon Club
County Club:Hampshire
Established:by 1778
Last Used:1806

Itchin Stoke Down is a rural location near the town of Alresford in Hampshire. It was used as a venue for 13 first-class cricket matches between 1778 and 1806 and as the home of the Alresford Cricket Club.

Itchin Stoke Down is first referenced as the venue for the Hambledon Club v Hambledon Parish match in May 1778.[1] The first first-class match known to have taken place on the Down was between Hampshire and All-England in July of the same year.[2] [3]

The Down was used as an occasional venue by Hampshire teams from then until the beginning of the 19th century and it survived the Hambledon Club. It was still in use for a Hampshire v All-England match as late as 1806, which was several years after the demise of Hambledon.[2]

Notes and References

  1. [G B Buckley]
  2. [Arthur Haygarth]
  3. https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/510.html Stoke Down, Alresford