#1882 83

2 incidents tagged

Florence Morphy and Ivo Bligh — Cricket's Great Love Story, 1882-83

England (Bligh's XI) v Australia

1884-02-09

When the Hon Ivo Bligh's England party arrived at Rupertswood near Sunbury for Christmas 1882, the captain was introduced to Florence Rose Morphy, music teacher and companion to Lady Janet Clarke, mistress of the house. The Ashes urn that emerged from the festivities was presented partly by Florence; within a year she and Bligh were engaged, and on 9 February 1884 they were married at Rupertswood. The Ashes therefore originate not just from a Sporting Times joke but from one of cricket's only real love stories.

#florence-morphy#ivo-bligh#ashes-urn

⭐Serious

Bligh's 'Quest to Recover the Ashes' — 1882-83 Tour

England v Australia

1882-12-30

Six weeks after the Sporting Times mock obituary, the Hon Ivo Bligh sailed for Australia at the head of a private English team with the explicit, half-joking goal of bringing 'the Ashes' home. England lost the first Test at Melbourne, won the next two at Melbourne and Sydney to take the official series 2-1, and at the end of the tour Bligh was presented with a small terracotta urn that, decades later, became the most famous trophy in cricket.

#ivo-bligh#the-ashes#1882-83