The picturesque village ground of Four Elms nestles
beneath the North Downs, one and a half miles from
two of the most historic attractions in England, Sir
Winston Churchill's house, Chartwell and Henry VIII’s
wife, Anne Boleyn's home, Hever Castle.
The earliest records available indicate that the club
was formed in 1868 and the original ground was on
Lord Bramwells Fields, Holmwood, adjoining the cabbage
field on the site that is now Boons Estate. It moved,
via Four Elms Farm “near the nurses cottage”,
to its present site in about 1890.
In 1893 the pavilion was erected and the same basic
structure is there today, despite the ravages of a
“doodle-bug” explosion towards the end
of the war, which ripped the end out – appropriately
that which is currently the bar, a site which has
seen many demonstrations since it was opened in the
centenary year of 1968!
From being tenants in the early years, the club became
“owners” when the then owner, Major Williams,
died and his widow gave it to the club “for
as long as Cricket is played in the village”.
It is now administered by a group of trustees.
We have produced a number of outstanding local Cricketers,
the best remembered being the Cartwright brothers,
Doddy and Frank, who graced our ground for over forty
years. However, perhaps the greatest talent, although
some have said with respect that Frank Cartwright
was better, was a man who went on to become Kent County
Captain and a test player for England, Chris Tavare.
Both his brothers also played for the club.
We have had several players who have played for the
club for over fifty years who are sadly no longer
with us, but the memories of Henry Knight and Roy
and Keith Dawes live on and trees and memorial seats
are located around the ground.
We have featured as the backdrop for advertising campaigns,
one for Vauxhall cars and another for a television
series on the history of Great Britain.We have played
host to an MCC side and a highly succesful and enjoyable
celebrity game between Tom Graveney’s XI and
Colin Milburn.’s XI.
We played in the West Kent League becoming league
champions in 1984. The club then became one of many
sides to leave the West Kent league to initiate the
Kent County Village League which we currently play
in. We also take part in the National Village Knockout
competition.
Images: Top left,
Major Williams. Top right, Ground handover. Middle, MCB XI,
Bottom, League Winners.