Bath, July 2025 — This summer marks a remarkable dual celebration in the West Country cricketing world. Lansdown Cricket Club, one of the oldest cricket clubs in England, is celebrating its 200th anniversary, while Somerset County Cricket Club commemorates 150 years since its founding. These two institutions are deeply intertwined, with Lansdown playing a pivotal role in the birth and early development of Somerset cricket.

A Storied Beginning

Founded in 1825 by William Cooper Keating, with the support of James Pycroft, Lansdown Cricket Club originally played on the old racecourse at Lansdown. In 1850, the club moved to Sydenham Field—now the site of the Green Park complex—before relocating to its current home at Combe Park in 1865 after being given notice to vacate.

The club’s badge is derived from the family crest of Sir Bevil Grenville, who died fighting for the Royalist cause at the Battle of Lansdown in 1643, further rooting the club in local history.

The Somerset Connection

Lansdown’s influence on Somerset County Cricket Club is profound. In August 1875, Somerset CCC was formed after a match against Devon at Sidmouth. The first official match played by the new county side took place at Lansdown’s Combe Park ground on 2 August 1876, against the Gentlemen of Dorset—with four Lansdown players in the Somerset XI.

In its early days, Somerset was captained by Lansdown’s own club captain, and the team was composed of enthusiastic amateurs—public school friends and Oxbridge graduates—who paid their own way and took pride in representing their county.

Legends of the Game

Lansdown has hosted some of cricket’s most iconic figures. W.G. Grace first played for the club in 1861 at the age of 12. In 1863, at just 14, he appeared in a match for Lansdown alongside his brothers E.M. and H. Grace in a game between All England XIs. A photograph of that historic match still hangs in the Lansdown Pavilion.

In 1880, W.G. Grace took a hat-trick and scored a chanceless 140 in a match against Clifton. Nearly a century later, in 1973, a young Viv Richards joined Lansdown while qualifying for Somerset, scoring 1,035 runs at an average of 60.88 in a single season.

Other notable players include Barbadian fast bowler Hallam Moseley (1970), New Zealand’s Matthew Horne (1990), and even Lord Hawke—who later became Foreign Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Lord Chancellor, and won the Derby in 1855.

Competitive Success and Community Spirit

Lansdown joined the Western League in 1975 and made history by becoming the first club to win the title in two consecutive seasons (1981–82). They were crowned champions again in 1997, winning every match that season.

Despite recent challenges—including relegation in 2024—the club remains a vibrant community hub. It supports a wide range of initiatives: walking cricket for seniors, a Petanque section, coaching programmes in local state schools, and the ECB’s All Stars and Dynamos schemes. It also provides weekday lunches for a nearby Alms House and fields both men’s and women’s teams across all age groups.

Looking Ahead

As the cricketing world grapples with the rise of franchise formats and the commercialisation of the game, Lansdown and Somerset stand as enduring symbols of tradition, resilience, and community spirit. With a combined 350 years of history, their legacy is not just about cricket—it’s about the people, stories, and values that have shaped the game in the West Country.

Who would bet against them still thriving in another 150 years?