William Bedle facts for kids

William Bedle (born March 4, 1680, died June 3, 1768) was an English cricket player. He played for the Dartford Cricket Club and Kent county cricket teams in the early 1700s. Many people think he was the first really skilled cricket player we know about. He was famous just for how good he was at the game! William Bedle was born in Bromley but lived most of his life near Dartford. He was a rich farmer and raised animals there.

William Bedle's Cricket Days

William Bedle was the first cricketer known to be truly famous for his skills. After he died, a newspaper called Lloyd's Evening Post wrote about him. It said he was once "the most expert cricket player in England." This means he was considered the best!

A cricket historian named Rowland Bowen said that Bedle was the first of many great players. He put Bedle in the same group as famous cricketers like Fuller Pilch, W. G. Grace, Jack Hobbs, and Wally Hammond.

Playing for Dartford and Kent

Bedle played cricket in the early 1700s. He was a member of the Dartford Cricket Club. This club was one of the best teams in Kent during that time. Sometimes, the Dartford team even played as the official Kent county team.

It's hard to know all the details about Bedle's games. Not many records from the early 1700s have survived. Old newspaper reports often talked more about the bets placed on games than about the players themselves. Because of this, historians have had to piece together what they know about Bedle's amazing career.

Life Outside Cricket

William Bedle lived near Dartford for most of his life. He worked as a farmer and also raised animals. His name, sometimes spelled Beddel, can still be seen today. It's on a special stone tablet in Dartford parish church. This tablet lists the people who rang the church bells in 1749.

William Bedle passed away at his home near Dartford on June 3, 1768. He was 88 years old.