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A match in progress at the Oval cricket grounds in Kennington. Built on Duchy of Cornwall land the distinctive oval shape was created c.1789 when a new road was laid out on land held by nurserymen William Malcolm and James & George Mitchelson. In 1790 it was leased to the Mitchelsons as a market garden and later various housing plans were rejected by the Duchy. In 1845 Mr Houghton of Brixton Hill proposed a 'Subscription Cricket Ground' and was accepted as the leasee for the Montpellier Club for 31 years lease at £120 pa. The club playing the first game in March of that year, after 10,000 turves from Tooting Common had been laid by Mr South a greengrocer. The Surrey Club, founded in the Horn Tavern 4 months earlier, initially shared the ground before becoming the leaseholder. This picture shows the pavilion built in 1895-7 by the architect Thomas Muirhead. Photograph from Kelly's Directories, c.1905.

Details
Collection:	South London News Cuttings Vols.
Image type:	Photograph
Artist:
Ref:	02046
Identifier:	LBL/DAS/RL/1/3/1 p98
Date:	c.1905

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