Cricket has been played in Bledlow for over 150 years.
A Brief History of Cricket played in Bledlow 1850 to 2000
From the British Newspaper Archives and members clippings.
Searching through BNA there are reports of games between Bledlow and Chinnor, Bledlow and Thame and friendlies between Bledlow Married and Single players in the 1850s.
There appears to have been a number of attempts to form a Bledlow Cricket Club with games being played on various fields lent by local farmers. Thomas Lee (The Moor), J Stopps (Holly Green Farm), John Folley, W. Clarke (The Warren), John Brooks (Five Acres), E. Thompson.
In 1883 the Bledlow and Hempton Cricket Club met in the Red Lion
In 1888 the Bledlow and Henton C.C. was formed.
in 1897 a meeting was held 'for the purpose of forming a Cricket Club'. A committee was elected and the opening match set for 22nd June. This was later called a 'Resuscitation'. The first match was played on 24th July 1897 against Lacey Green C.C.
James Folley, landlord of the Red Lion Inn (now The Lions) from 1863-1900 was also a keen early player and supporter. Other local hostelries which have been used include the former Queen Inn on Longwick Road and the Barleycorn. Link for those interested in Public Houses, Inns & Taverns of Bledlow.
Family names which appear regularly in the early years include Avery, Brooks, Catton, Folley, Gomme, Goodchild, Quint.
Bledlow Village CC history 1850-1900.pdf
Bledlow Village CC history 1901-1950.pdf
Bledlow Village CC history 1951- 2000.pdf
Daily Mirror - Monday 05 March 1962; LIFE in the Mirror with Rex North Play
A LITTLE out-of-season advice to the village cricketers of the hamlet of Bledlow, Buckinghamshire. Lord Carrington, First Lord of the Admiralty, deserves a match trophy in his honour.
Milord, a keen cricketer and president of the Bledlow Cricket Club has just given the club a field for their permanent pitch.
Lord Carrington said: "I don't want it used for anything else but cricket"— and, by Jove, this was sincere straight bat talk.
Note that Bucks Free Press does not have an online archive (Jan 2023) which limits the number of recent entries.
Please submit new material, corrections etc. to the club secretary.