William Clarke laid out a cricket ground on land behind the Trent Bridge Inn at Nottingham in 1838, the year after his marriage to the inn's proprietor, the widow Mary Chapman. The ground hosted its first major match in May 1838 and grew through the nineteenth century into one of cricket's great Test venues — and the only major Test ground in the world founded by a single individual on commercial initiative.
Nottingham cricket in the 1830s lacked a proper enclosed ground. Forest Recreation Ground and various meadows had been used for important matches, but no permanent enclosure existed. Clarke's marriage to Mary Chapman gave him control of land suitable for one.
Mary Chapman had inherited the Trent Bridge Inn from her first husband, the previous proprietor. The land behind the inn was meadow used for grazing; Clarke saw that turfing and enclosing it would create a ground that could be charged for entry.
The Trent Bridge Inn stood on the south bank of the river, on the road from Nottingham to West Bridgford. Mary Chapman, who had inherited the inn from her first husband, married William Clarke in 1837. Clarke, already a leading Notts cricketer, immediately saw the potential of the meadow behind the inn for a cricket ground that he could run as part of the licensed business. He laid the ground out over the winter of 1837-38 and opened it for major matches in May 1838. The first significant fixture, between a Nottingham eleven and a side from Sheffield, was played there that summer. Within a decade the ground was hosting William Clarke's All-England Eleven (founded 1846), and it became the home of Nottinghamshire cricket from the formal foundation of the county club in 1859. The Test debut came in 1899; by 1900 Trent Bridge was an established Test venue, and it has remained one ever since. Its origin as a public-house meadow turned commercial cricket ground is unique among the major venues of world cricket.
1837: William Clarke marries Mary Chapman, widow of the Trent Bridge Inn proprietor
Winter 1837-38: Ground laid out and turfed
May 1838: First major match played
1846: AEE matches at Trent Bridge
1859: Nottinghamshire CCC formally founded; Trent Bridge becomes county home
1899: First Test match at Trent Bridge
1837
Clarke marries Mary Chapman
Winter 1837-38
Ground laid out behind the Trent Bridge Inn
May 1838
First major match
1846
AEE matches at Trent Bridge
1859
Notts CCC founded; ground becomes county home
After Clarke's death in 1856 the ground passed through several hands until Notts CCC took over the lease in 1881. The pavilion was rebuilt in 1886 and the ground gradually expanded to its modern Test capacity.
The only Test ground in the world founded by a single individual on private commercial initiative — and the foundation of Nottinghamshire's continuous cricket history.
Trent Bridge is one of the seven England Test grounds and has hosted every touring side since 1899. Its origins in a publican's meadow set it apart from Lord's (laid out by Thomas Lord on aristocratic land), the Oval (Duchy of Cornwall lease) and Old Trafford (Manchester CC subscription), and underline the commercial ingenuity of William Clarke.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.