The Westmorland Cricket League- one of life's pleasures- part one

 By Mike Latham

Watching cricket in the Westmorland Cricket League is one of life’s pleasures.

For the purist, the standard of play might not be of the finest, but more than compensated for that is the beauty of the surroundings and the dedication of the local clubs, players and their supporters in preserving the game of cricket and its traditions, often in far-flung communities.

The League is well organised and has a large network of volunteer officials who contribute in so many ways.

On a personal level, I have a great affinity with Carnforth CC who left the Northern Premier Cricket League to consolidate in a league where no professional was required. Over the last decade or so the Carnforth club has been revitalised and its Lodge Quarry ground is the League’s crown jewel, a regular host to Lancashire age group sides, the county’s Women’s team and the League’s showpiece games.

Wherever you go in the League you will be met by players and volunteers who love the game of cricket. Two people, whom I know, having moved into the area in recent years, have become enchanted by the League which has seen them view the game in a different light.

The highly respected Westmorland Cricket League historian John Glaister helped me prepare a series of features for the Cumberland CCC yearbook which I edited for several years. Together we looked at some of the grounds of the Westmorland Cricket League.

Over the next few weeks, I aim to introduce you to the delights of the Westmorland Cricket League, together with some of John’s background, club by club and my photographs. I hope you enjoy it.

Ambleside CC: Founded 1858

The newly formed club played its first game on Monday 16 August against Windermere CC, formed a year earlier. Exactly where the game was played is lost in the sands of time, but early cricket grounds are believed to have been opposite St Mary's Church and on Kelsick Park. The red letter day, however, came at the start of the 1885 season when Patron Stanley Hughes Le Fleming of Rydal Hall, whose ancestors came over with William The Conqueror, granted the move to the Rydal Ground where the club has played ever since. In 2005 Rydal won the 'Loveliest Ground Competition' organised by Wisden Cricket Monthly.

Arnside CC- founded 1893

After a long period of abeyance between 1902 and 1932 the club re-formed in 1933 when they took up residence at their current 'Playing Field' ground. Watching cricket there on a beautiful summer’s day is one of life’s pleasures. The ground has the feel of an amphitheatre and attracts good crowds that revel in the wonderful surroundings, just inland from the bay.

Bare CC: Founded 1946

The Bare club began life as an appendage of Morecambe Cricket Club in the war years and played midweek games as the 'Bare Section' of Morecambe CC. After a stormy AGM in 1945, the ‘sectioners’ declared UDL and re-branded as 'Bare CC.' Games continued at Woodhill Lane but sharing rarely works and no games were played in 1950 and 1951. Revival saw the club as itinerants playing on a variety of middens until a Eureka moment. Negotiations with the Lancaster and Morecambe Agricultural Society bore fruit and Bare CC have played on Cross Hill Park, Lancaster since 1964.

Bolton-le-Sands CC- founded 1877

There is little information on the club's history, but it is known that Bolton-le-Sands CC joined the Westmorland Cricket League in 1952 (after re-establishing) and presumably took up occupation of the Main Road A6 ground, between Lancaster and Carnforth. Club stalwarts maintain the ground to a high standard and though the club has fallen down the leagues, it remains a hugely valued part of village life.

Burneside CC (Kendal)- founded 1850

The Cropper family (ie. the paper people of Burneside) were (and still are) patrons of village sports, the members of which provided the workforce. They lived in the mansion named Ellergreen House and in 1863 allowed cricket to be played where it is to this day. In the 1970s Burneside CC purchased the ground from the Croppers. The senior Cumberland CCC side has played at Ellergreen.

Carnforth CC- founded 1867

The Lodge Quarry ground has been a secure home since 1904 when it was reported that 'the club has been fortunate in buying the field which has so long been rented to them.' It had been 'long rented' since July 1891. The ground hosted the Lancashire-Nottinghamshire Women’s county championship game in 2019 and several Lancashire age-group sides. Extensively developed, with the pavilion redeveloped and the old quarry slope now landscaped, the Lodge Quarry ground is the jewel in the Crown of the Westmorland League, a wonderful cricket ground for a club that has been league and cup winners in each of the last three seasons.

Cartmel CC: Founded 1852

Then, as now, patrons of the Cartmel Club are the Cavendish family of the Holker Hall Estate. The name Cavendish and the Dukes of Devonshire (from Chatsworth House, Derbyshire) are synonymous. In residence at Holker in 1852 was William Cavendish who became the Seventh Duke of Devonshire in 1858. He and his two sons were cricket ‘buffs’, hence Cartmel Park was given over to the summer game. The club has been there ever since. Should there be a problem (eg Cartmel Races) there is always a spare Cavendish Ground at Holker Hall itself.