Littlehampton, Clapham and Patching Cricket Club - Cricket at The Sportsfield

Cricket At The Sportsfield

The West Sussex Gazette reported on 20 May 1897

“The Duke of Norfolk has just offered the town the waterworks field as a gift in commemoration of Her Majesty’s reign, to be used as a public recreation and pleasure ground. As it is proposed the present cricket ground (Selborne Road) will before very long be required for building purposes, the acquisition of the new ground will be greatly appreciated.”

The 200 year Sportsfield lease stated – “The Duke has decided to substitute another Field for the said Cricket Field and to vest the same in Trustees for the purpose of Cricket, Football and other sports.” At a meeting in February 1898 it was proposed that the Littlehampton Cricket Club, the Littlehampton Association Football Club, the Littlehampton Swifts Football Club and the Littlehampton Athletic and Cycling Sports Club use the ground.

The ground was prepared for sports with fencing and a pavilion provided in time for the 1900 cricket season. The official opening of the ground was performed by Lady Mary Howard, sister of the Duke of Norfolk, and was commemorated with a two-day cricket match between the Gentlemen of Sussex and the Players of Sussex. The game was drawn.

In 1939 the Littlehampton Gazette reported that the Duke of Norfolk “has decided that the general interest and progress of the town can best be served by the transfer of ownership to those who can give undivided attention to it and are able to carry out expansion on the best lines”. The Sportsfield formed part of the estate of the Duke. In 1940 the sale was confirmed with a private trust company.

Early, in 1962, after previously changing hands a number of times, the Sportsfield was conveyed to Ortem Estates Limited as part of a transaction involving the acquisition of the Beaumont Estate for residential development. On 29 March 1962 the freehold was sold on to Trustees appointed by the Littlehampton Cricket Club for the sum of £10. The West Sussex Gazette reported – “Littlehampton Cricket Club has bought the freehold of the Sportsfield and so ensured that the ground will remain the town’s sports’ centre for all times.” The successor Trustees, appointed in accordance with the terms of the original lease in 1894, were not affected by the purchase. They would continue to be responsible for the administration and maintenance of the ground until the lease terminated in the year 2087 unless the Sportsfield Trustees decided that they could not run the ground. In that case the control of the Sportsfield would be passed to the Cricket Club.