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Nevill Ground

Coordinates: 51°07′20″N 0°16′05″E / 51.12222°N 0.26806°E / 51.12222; 0.26806
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Nevill Ground
Ground information
LocationRoyal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England
Coordinates51°07′20″N 0°16′05″E / 51.12222°N 0.26806°E / 51.12222; 0.26806
Establishment1898 (1898)
Capacity6,000 [1]
End names
Pavilion End
Railway End
International information
Only ODI18 June 1983:
 India v  Zimbabwe
Team information
Kent (1901 – present)
As of 15 December 2007
Source: CricketArchive

The Nevill Ground is a cricket venue located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. It played host to one One Day International during the 1983 Cricket World Cup, the group stage match between India and Zimbabwe in which Kapil Dev played a knock of 175*. The Nevill Ground is known for having rhododendron bushes around the perimeter.[2]

History

The Bluemantle Stand

The Nevill Ground was established in 1895 after the purchase of the land by the Tunbridge Wells Cricket, Football and Athletic Club, with assistance from the Bluemantle Cricket Club, on a 99 year lease from the Marquess of Abergavenny as the land was part of his Eridge Park estate. The Nevill Ground was named after William Nevill, 1st Marquess of Abergavenny. Building of the ground's facilities started in 1896 with it being offically opened by the Marquess of Abergavenny in 1898.[3] In the early 20th century, the county boundry between Kent and East Sussex ran through the Nevill Ground's pitch.[4] The end opposite the pavilion is known as the Railway End due to the Hastings Line running close by that end of the ground.[2]

The first pavilion was built in 1903 at a cost of £1,200, which was destroyed in a suffragette arson attack in 1913. During the First World War, the Nevill Ground was requisitioned by the British army to graze cavalry horses. This damaged the pitch and took a few years for it to recover.[2] During the Second World War, the Nevill Ground was again requisitioned for military purposes, this time to hold soldiers.[5] In 1946, ownership of the ground was transferred from the Tunbridge Wells Cricket, Football and Athletic Club to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.[6]

In 1995, a permanent brick stand was built and became known as the Bluemantle Stand after the Bluemantle Cricket Club members who helped to build it. The Bluemantle Stand was built on the site of the original pavilion.[7] Every Tunbridge Wells Cricket Week, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council erects a temporary grandstand at the Nevill Ground.[8]

1913 Arson

In April 1913, the cricket pavilion was burnt down by militant Suffragettes due to Kent having a policy of no-admittance to women. The fire was started in the dressing rooms with the perpetrator setting fire to cricket nets that were being stored in there.[9] In front of the pavilion, firemen found that the perpetrator had left suffragette literature, an electric lantern and a picture of Emily Pankhurst.[10] The attack may have been provoked by a comment by an unknown Kent official who is reported to have said "It is not true that women are banned from the pavilion. Who do you think makes the teas?"[11]

There was an angry reaction to the attack locally and nationally. The National League for Opposing Women's Suffrage held a meeting in the town with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle attending, where he called the suffragettes "female hooligans"[10] and compared the attack to "blowing up a blind man and his dog".[12][10] A new pavilion was built after a series of fund raising concerts at the opera house at a cost of £1,200. Construction was finished in 9 weeks, being completed hours before Kent were due to play at the Tunbridge Wells Cricket Week in July.[10] Nevill Ground was the only cricket ground to be attacked by suffragettes.[13]

Usage

The Nevill Ground is used regularly by Kent Cricket League team, Tunbridge Wells CC.[14] It is also used to host hockey and is used by Tunbridge Wells Hockey Club.[15] It was formerly used to host association football however The Nevill Ground stopped hosting football in 1903.[3]

Kent County Cricket Club use the ground as one of its outgrounds for two or thee County Matches a year. It has seen some big scores from Joe Denly, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff. Two first-class matches were played every year until 1992, when the number was reduced to one. However, since the demise of Mote Park, Tunbridge Wells has regained an extra fixture. Since 2006 it has been home to the town's athletic club Tunbridge Wells Harriers. The forerunners of this club were also based here in the late 19th century.

The Nevill Ground was first used as an outground by Kent in 1901 at the behest of George Harris, 4th Baron Harris. In order to assist Kent, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council contribute £25,000 to cover the running costs of hosting Kent's games at the Nevill Ground.[8]

In 2012, Kent's Friends Life Twenty20 match against Sussex was moved to the St. Lawrence Ground after the Nevill Ground was flooded after heavy rainfall leading to the 100th Tunbridge Wells Cricket Week being cut short.[16]

1983 World Cup

The Nevill Ground was selected as one of the host grounds for the 1983 Cricket World Cup. It hosted one group stage match between India and Zimbabwe, which Kapil Dev scored 175 not out, which helped India win and qualify from their group, thus avoiding a play-off against Australia.[17] Dev's partnership with Syed Kirmani set a world record for the largest ninth wicket partnership of 126.[17] This match led to the Nevill Ground being held in high regard by Indian cricket fans.[18]

There was no footage taken of the match due to the BBC being on strike on the day of the match,[19] the Nevill Ground being ruled as too small with India and Zimbabwe being deemed too "irrelevant" for a camera crew to be sent to the match.[20] Despite this there were reports of an India supporter who had brought a camcorder to the game and filmed unofficial coverage of the match. The tape was purchased by Dev after the match for an unknown amount.[21] However, it has been claimed that this is an urban legend and that there was no proof of this occurring.[20]

In 2008 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the game, Dev returned to the Nevill Ground to film a news segment. Afterwards he was welcomed by representatives of Kent County Cricket Club and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.[18]

1993 Women's World Cup

In 1993, The Nevill Ground was selected as one of the venues used in the 1993 Women's Cricket World Cup. It hosted one match between Australia and the West Indies, which Australia won by 8 wickets.[22]

Records

References

  1. ^ "Kent coach Paul Farbrace hails Tunbridge Wells support". BBC News. 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
  2. ^ a b c "Nevill Ground". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  3. ^ a b "A brief history of the Nevill Ground". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  4. ^ Tanya Aldred (2002-06-03). "Kent follow lead of playboy prince". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  5. ^ "Ton up - A century for the Kent Cricket Festival". The INDEX Magazine. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  6. ^ Purnell, Gareth (1997-06-02). "Johnson ready to stop the rot". The Independent. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  7. ^ "History". Bluemantles Cricket Club. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  8. ^ a b "Travelling shows must continue". Telegraph. 2007-06-13. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  9. ^ "London April 11". New York Times. 1913-04-12. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  10. ^ a b c d "Blowing up a blind man and his dog". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  11. ^ a b Scott, Les (2011). "48: Kent". Bats, Balls & Bails: The Essential Cricket Book. Random House. ISBN 1446423166.
  12. ^ Lycett, Andrew (2007). The Man Who Created Sherlock Holmes: The Life and Times of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Simon and Schuster. p. 363. ISBN 0743275233.
  13. ^ Simkins, Michael (2012). The Last Flannelled Fool (reprint ed.). Random House. p. 114. ISBN 0091927552.
  14. ^ "Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League Premier Division 2012". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  15. ^ "Tunbridge Wells Hockey Club, Nevill Ground,". The Sun. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  16. ^ "Severe weather: Thanet beaches stay closed and Kent cricket moves". BBC News. 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  17. ^ a b "Kapil clubs India to victory". BBC Sport. 2003-01-09. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  18. ^ a b "Kapil Dev returns to scene of historic innings". Asian Image. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  19. ^ "Kapil's 175 an epic knock, insist his '83 Devils". Thaindian News. 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  20. ^ a b "Hallowed ground". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  21. ^ "Kapil Dev spares India's blushes". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  22. ^ "9th Match: Australia Women v West Indies Women at Tunbridge Wells, Jul 24, 1993". ESPN Cricinfo. 1993-07-24. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  23. ^ "A trip down memory lane at Tunbridge Wells". This is Kent. 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  24. ^ Donnelly, Paul (2010). First, Last & Only: Cricket. Hachett UK. p. 1960. ISBN 0743275233.
  25. ^ "All Kaps". Times of India. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  26. ^ "Highest partnership for the ninth wicket". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
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