The Bat & Ball Inn is a historic eighteenth-century

pub A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...

near

Clanfield, Hampshire Clanfield is a village and civil parish in the south-east of the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is situated north of Horndean, north of Portsmouth and south of Petersfield. It sits to the west of the main A3 road, just nor ...

, England. The earliest widely accepted written rules for the game of

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by str ...

were drafted at the pub.

History

The pub is situated opposite the

Broadhalfpenny Down Broadhalfpenny Down (pronounced /ˌbrɔ:dˈheɪpniː/; '' brawd-HAYP-nee'') is a historic cricket ground in Hambledon, Hampshire. It is known as the "Cradle of Cricket" because it was the home venue in the 18th century of the Hambledon Club, ...

ground, the original home of the

Hambledon Club The Hambledon Club was a social club that is famous for its organisation of 18th century cricket matches. By the late 1770s it was the foremost cricket club in England. Foundation The origin of the club, based near Hambledon in rural Hampshire ...

Richard Nyren Richard Nyren (1734 – 1797) was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket during the heyday of the Hambledon Club. A genuine all-rounder and the earliest known left-hander of note, Nyren was the captain of Hampshire when ...

, a landlord of the inn from 1762 to 1772, was the

's team captain. Nyren was succeeded as landlord by William Barber, another well-known Hambledon cricketer, who held the licence until 1784. The

Monarch's Way The Monarch's Way is a long-distance footpath in England that approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester. It runs from Worcester via Bristol and Yeovil to Shoreham, West Su ...

long-distance footpath passes the pub. The pub is currently owned by Fuller's and is a former George Gale and Co Ltd Pub. The pub has been Grade II listed since 1954.

References

Bibliography

* F S Ashley-Cooper, ''The Hambledon Cricket Chronicle'', Herbert Jenkins, 1924 *

David Underdown David Edward Underdown (19 August 1925 – 26 September 2009) was a historian of 17th-century England, English politics and culture and Professor Emeritus at Yale University. Born at Wells, Somerset, Underdown was educated at The Blue School, Well ...

, ''Start of Play'', Allen Lane, 2000 {{DEFAULTSORT:Bat and Ball Inn, Hambledon Grade II listed pubs in Hampshire