Page:Hastings of Bygone Days and the Present.pdf/95

I am indebted to Mr. Thomas Parkin, J. P. (himself a gentleman player of former days, who has preserved many records of the game as played in Hastings), for some interesting notes for this article. In 1825, Hastings may be said to have commenced its connection with first-class cricket ; that year saw the birth, at a house in Wellington Square, Hastings, of Mr. Arthur Haygarth, the well-known gentleman player, and compiler of "Frederick Lillywhite's Scores and Biographies." In the same year also, Edward Thwaites, a tallow chandler, of Hastings, assisted England in a match at Lords. In 1826 was played a memorable single-wicket match at Benenden, in Kent, between Edward Thwaites, Fielder, and Sawyer (of Hastings), and three Benenden cricketers for a stake of £40, when Wenham, of Benenden, remained at the wicket nearly two whole days and scored nearly 100 runs. The first Hastings Cricket Club was formed in 1840, and amongst the members were, E. Thwaites, G. Standen, Sawyer, Baxter, Burchell, and Tutt. The matches were then played in a field on the West Hill, known as Thwaites' Field, afterwards Breeds', near where Collier Road is now, and not far from the Cricket Field mentioned in the Collier plan of 1750. Many records of notable Hastings matches in which such "lions" as Fuller, Pilch, Box, Alfred Mynn, and Lillywhite participated. In 1843 a great match was played against Brighton on the East Hill ; in this match the late Mr. C. H. Gausden played for the visitors. Mr. Gausden, who was the founder of the ground at Hove, afterwards became a resident of St. Leonards, and a member for many years of the Corporation, as Councillor, Alderman, and Mayor, was the founder of the business of Gausden and Dawson, Auctioneers (now Dawson and Harden). In 1857 was formed the well-known East Sussex Club, with its ground on the old Race Course, in the Crowhurst Valley, St. Leonards. Its members included many leading residents who are now deceased : Sir Anchitel Ashburnham, Mr. Herbert M. Curteis, Sir A. Webster, Mr. V. B. Crake, Mr. W. E. M. Watts, Mr. E. Farncombe, Mr. W. Shadforth Boger, Mr. E. Hume, Major Stileman and others. Matches were played with the principal Clubs of Sussex. The first county match was played at St. Leonards in 1857, between Sussex and the M.C.C. In i860 the East Sussex Club was dissolved, and a Town Club, called the Hastings United came into existence, the late Mr. E. Foster, a tailor (who died some years ago in Castle Hill Road), being the professional. The Club ground was on the East Hill. It was in connection with this new Club that Mr. A. J. Brook (Johnny Brook, as the crowd called him), a mighty batsman and a good bowler, came into notice ; also the famous cricketing family of Phillips, Henry, William, Albert, James, and Peter, all five splendid exponents of the game, and playing in a match in 1874 ^or Hastings against the East Sussex Club at St. Leonards, the five brothers scored 174 out of a total of 241 runs. Henry, Albert and James, all played for Sussex County, Henry as wicket-keeper, and one of the best the County has ever produced, besides being a good bat. Excepting Albert, the brothers have all passed away.