ORIGIN OF “LORD’S”

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 149, 19 March 1921, Page 7

ORIGIN OF “LORD’S”

Lord’s and the Marylebono Cricket Club were founded in 1787, says a writer in tho Newcastle “Weekly Chiipnicle.” The club has enjoyed an uninterrupted career since that date. Since Thomas Lord gave his name to the great ground, cricket haa gradually forced its way up from th® position of a mere game to that of a fine art. The Marylebone Club "and Ground” —as it is usually termed—occupies the proud place of arbiter of the destinies of cricket. Inside Lord’s pavilion is enshrined the parliament that makes the laws of the game, while "the Ground" is represented by the largest and most competent staff of professional talent ever gathered together in one place. The original ."Lord’s” (was situated* where Dorset Square now is, .and the first match of any importance took place there on June 20, 21, and 22, 1787, under the title of England v. The White Conduit Club. In 1810, as the outcome of a quarrel with the landlord, Mr. Lord shifted bis ground to the neighbourhood of North Bank, Regent’s Park. But in three years* time the Regent’s Canal was cut right through the ground, and Lord again 'had to move. A less enthusiastic man might well have hesitated after two such reverses. Not so Thomas Lord, for in 1814 wo find him at home, in occupation of the present fine site in St. John’s Wood Road. Even here, however, illluck dogged his footsteps. The club was well established on a paying basis, and he had been settled in the new premises for some ten years, when —to be exact, it was on July 28; 1825—just after tlhe close of tho first match between Hatrow and Winchester, the great fire took place whereby the pavilion was destroyed, and with it the books of the concern. Lord had at tho time upward of £2OOO owing io him in subscriptions. Eleven years after this disaster lord retired altogether from the fight he bad waged so manfully, and parted with tho lease of the ground and premises to Mr. J. H. Dark. From 1866, in which year the mejnbers of the Marylebone Club acquired the freehold of the ground for themselves, the history of "Lord’s” has in effect beer the history of English cricket.