Windmill Down facts for kids

Windmill Down is a special place near Hambledon in Hampshire, England. From 1782 to 1795, it was a very important home for the Hambledon Club. This club was famous for playing cricket a long time ago.

Windmill Down: A Historic Cricket Ground

Windmill Down was once a busy cricket field. It saw many exciting matches. This rural spot became a key location for early cricket. It helped shape the game we know today.

Where Cricket History Was Made

The Hambledon Club was one of the most important cricket clubs in the 1700s. They played their home games at Windmill Down. This ground was where many famous players showed their skills. It was a big deal for cricket fans back then.

From Broadhalfpenny to Windmill Down

Before Windmill Down, the Hambledon Club played at a place called Broadhalfpenny Down. They used that ground from at least 1753 until 1781. But Broadhalfpenny was thought to be "too remote" or too far away.

Windmill Down was much closer to the village of Hambledon. Broadhalfpenny was about two miles away. Windmill Down was right next to the town. Even though Broadhalfpenny had a famous pub nearby, Windmill Down became the new home.

The First Matches at Windmill Down

The first time people met at Windmill Down for cricket was on June 18, 1782. A newspaper called the Hampshire Chronicle reported it. They called the ground "a field called the New Broad Halfpenny." This new name showed its connection to the old ground.

It's likely the first match happened a week later. The first official "first-class cricket" match was in August 1782. This was a big game between Hampshire and All-England. All-England won that match by 147 runs.

The End of an Era

Windmill Down was used regularly for Hampshire's home matches. This continued for many years. However, its time as a cricket venue eventually came to an end. The last recorded match played there was in July 1795. After that, the ground was no longer used for major cricket games.