Our Story
From a meadow in Westmead to Hardenhuish Park
Facilities…
The Club was founded in the late 1830’s and played many of its early matches in Westmead, in the grounds of The Ivy, less than half a mile from the Club’s current home.
In 1889, the Club moved to a more permanent home on the nearby Hardenhuish estate, as a result of the owning Clutterbuck family agreeing to allow part of it to be used recreationally.
The Club moved “lock, stock and pavilion“. Players and other members posed for a photo in the re-located pavilion in commemoration.
It was agreed at the time that the ground could accommodate other sports. Football, bicycling, harriers were quickly introduced and by the late 1930’s hockey, tennis, bowls and croquet were also being played. This partnership of Chippenham sports has continued.
In 1935, as a result of the County Council puchasing the Hardenhuish estate, primarily to house and develop local senior schools, the cricket club and its partners moved across the estate to a new home alongside the Bristol Road.
The Club and its partners purchased the 10 acre site for £2,052 and it has remained there to the present day.
Substantial further investment was made to expand and upgrade the site in 2004.
To name but a few…
Local MP, Joseph Neeld was an early member of the Club, together with several other town notables from for example, the Forrester, Awdry and Brotherhood families, who remained involved with the Club as players and officials well into the 20th century.
Included front center, in the commemorative team photo, is the Club’s first cricket professional, George Reckless.
Two quite famous England international brothers guested for the Club in the early days, the first E M Grace in a match against Savernake Forest and the other, his younger brother, Dr W C Grace, in a match against Bowood on the 13th August 1863. The Doc was unfortunately out without scoring.
During the twentieth century, the Club continued to grow its reputation in the region and reportedly dominated cricket in Wiltshire until well into the 1970’s.
This dominance was personified by Club Captain and “Wiltshire legend”, Reggie Forrester who also captained Wiltshire through the 1940’s, held various County offices from 1930 until becoming President from 1966 to 1987. Reggie was also Chairman of the Minor Counties Cricket Association from 1964 to 1968.
Pictured alongside Reggie in the 1950s Club photo is Jim Hurn, who captained the County for 9 years during the 1950s and was responsible from bringing a number of other notable players into the Club.
The first ever List-A County match played in Wiltshire…Wiltshire versus Hampshire in the Gillette Cup in 1964…was played at Hardenhuish Park.
The Club’s own Jim Merryweather and Tony Marshall played in that game.
Jim went on to play 187 games for Wiltshire and remains the second highest wicket-taker in Minor Counties history.
Tony played for Kent and then 144 times for Wiltshire from 1955 to 1970. Regarded as the backbone of the cricket club for many years, he was also Chairman of the Sports & Social Club.
Also very worthy of mention is Robert Gwilt, who never actually played for the Club. Robert was the 1st X1 scorer for 57 consecutive seasons from 1953 to 2009…”meticulous”, “eccentric”, “outstanding”.
Growth and diversity…
In the 1970s, the Club was invited to become one of 17 founding members of the Western League. It retained that position until the League morphed into its current Wiltshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire based structure.
In the late 1990s an approach was made to the neighbouring Sheldon School to use their old cricket ground. Until that time, the Club had usually only fielded two senior sides and a single junior X1, with women and girls making only rare appearances.
The Sheldon square was refurbished and an artificial pitch installed, enabling a 3rd and 4th X1s to be established.
When membership grew still further, Sheldon School agreed to the installation of a second artificial strip on another area, enabling 5th and 6th X1s to be formed.
All four of these additional senior sides play now in Wiltshire leagues.
The junior section has also expanded substantially, with access to the Club’s All Stars programme for the youngest and to its age group teams competing in leagues at u9, u11, u12, u13, u15 and u19 levels.
The programme has also been boosted by the Club’s Academy, the first in Wiltshire. Its alumni include England internationals, James Vince and Liam Dawson, along with numerous other County players, all enjoying first class coaching, most recently from Gloucestershire County captain, Graeme Van Buuren.
As impressive has been the growth in women’s cricket at the Club. Women and girls are regular members of our senior and junior sides and our women’s teams also compete in soft and hardball competitions, contributing increasing numbers to county and regional teams.
The Club is now the biggest in Wiltshire. More important however, is the Club’s continuing determination to provide an inclusive, enjoyable and progressive environment for all its members.