Village cricket has long been interwoven with Kentish life, a slice of which features in a new book, titled Cricket in Barham.
A history of cricket in Barham, near Canterbury, the book charts the rise and decline of cricket in the village over 200 years.
Cricket’s popularity grew rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Kentish Gazette and other local newspapers played a key role then in raising the game’s profile and stimulating interest in it.
Near Barham itself, Bourne Park and Barham Downs were significant early cricket venues. Barham’s first recorded cricket match took place in 1813, in the same year as the first recorded match on the Goodwin Sands!
Related News