#darnley

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

🔥Mild

Bail or Veil? — The Mystery of the Ashes Urn's Contents

England (Bligh's XI) v Australia

1882-12-25

What is actually inside the Ashes urn? For over a century the standard answer was 'a burnt cricket bail', but in 1998 the 8th Earl of Darnley's daughter-in-law claimed the contents were the burnt remains of a lady's veil, possibly belonging to Florence Morphy or Lady Janet Clarke. MCC, which has had the urn since 1927, has never officially confirmed either version. After a 2006-07 examination an MCC official said it was '95 per cent certain' the contents were a bail — leaving 5 per cent of cricket's most famous mystery still open.

#ashes-urn#bail#veil