ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF CRICKET AT TORQUAY RECREATION GROUND BY JACK CRITCHLOW

This year sees the return of Torquay (and Kingskerswell) Cricket Club to its home, The Recreation Ground, on Torquay Sea Front, for the hundredth consecutive season. But it might be worth going back further than 1926 to see how the old ground evolved even before then. 

On 24th May, 1888, The Torquay Recreation Ground Ltd. was incorporated, which set about trying to raise the £3000 required to get the ball rolling. The Mallock Estate leased out six acres of land near Torquay Station for 19 years at £52 per annum for the first 14 years, and £65 yearly for the remainder. After such conditions were met a formal opening and rugby match took place on 29th September, 1888, when visitors Newton Abbot beat Torquay. The following year saw five tennis courts open on the site, laid by Curtis, Sandford and Co. Tickets for the season cost ten shillings and sixpence, which also admitted members to all cycling, athletics and rugby events. In the June of 1889 a quarter mile cycle track, 20 feet wide, laid by Webber and Stedhams, was opened for race meetings held by Torquay Cycling Club. 'The Rec's' first grandstand was then built, and a bowling green followed in 1894. 

However, because of financial difficulties, in 1896 the Ground was sub-leased to a syndicate at a rent of £110 per annum, but then after a proposal to wind up the company it was decided to re-mortgage. This presented problems so the council stepped in and bought the Recreation Ground on behalf of the people of Torquay to preserve as somewhere that sports and other such pursuits could continue. And in the coming years this would also include the likes of parades and pageants, firework displays and picture shows. The rest, as they say, is history. 

On a personal note, I have always had an affinity with the old place, in part due to the fact that my Great Uncle John Hornbrook was a groundsman/caretaker there, his job having been kept open for him while he was away serving in the Boer War (1899-1902), and he brought a monkey back from South Africa which would accompany him to work there every day. 

As time moved on invariably changes took place, with Torquay United taking up residence in 1900, paying an annual rent of £5, but for that the club still had to maintain the ground and cut the grass. And there were even problems back then with blocked underground culverts. But in 1904 Torquay Athletic Rugby Club became the new landlords, so United were obliged to make way and find a new home, eventually arriving at Plainmoor in 1910, where they have been ever since, while 'The Tics' flourished on their new ground. 

After having played at Windmill Hill and Cricketfield Road from when the club was founded in 1851, Torquay Cricket Club finally took over the other half of the Recreation Ground in 1926. The opening First XI fixture was against Chudleigh, which was won by the home side. However, the umpires reported that as the club anticipated playing touring teams and hosting county matches in the future, then "the Town Council must take steps to materially improve the ground as a cricket field." But on a more positive note it was observed that there were many spectators present, with teas being supplied to them as well as the players.

These would have been served from the rugby club's premises as the cricket pavilion was not built until ten years later, and when it was officially opened by the Mayor of Torquay, Col. Rowland Ward, in 1936, he commented that the club "possessed one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the country."

And even today, 90 years later, The Recreation Ground must still be one of the most stunning sports venues anywhere, bordered as it is by parkland and gardens, with a fine medieval abbey and Victorian railway station for neighbours; and the splendour of the sea just yards from boundary's edge.

Here's to another century at 'The Rec' for Torquay (and Kingskerswell) Cricket Club.