Hambledon's story begins in the mists of the Stone and Bronze Ages. A nearby
Ion-Age fort and a Roman villa sustain the tale until it is taken up by a church
which tells of Saxons and Normans and then of the prosperous years when the
village became the centre of a Hundred and aspired to the title of market town.
The story is illuminated by charters and documents, deeds and wills, and
coloured by lore and legend. A communal grave in the churchyard tells of
disaster, indentures of a 'great conflagration', the war memorial speaks of
sacrifice while a lonely stone in a hedgerow weaves in the black thread of
murder. In the late 18th century it reaches a climax on Broadhalfpenny Down, by
the 'Bat and Ball Inn' where huge crowds gathered to watch 'a match at cricket'.
They saw bowlers developing new techniques which forced batsmen to improve their
skills and style as cricket was raised from a sport to an art. The author
devotes enough space and detail to cricketing history to satisfy the most ardent
student of the game.
Kings and bishops, dukes and earls, Cavaliers and Roundheads, legenday
cricketers, the famous, the infamous and a host of ordinary folk have all played
their hour on Hambledon's stage. Their story, from ancient times to the present
day, has been lovingly told in a well organised and very readable narrative.
Contents:
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Introduction
1. The Heritage
2. Hamelanduna
3. Quill and Parchment
4. The Hambledon Hundred
5. Bishop takes King's Pawn
6. The Market Town
7. Royal Roundhead
8. Fire, Bells, Knells and Murder
9. Moment of Glory - I
10. Moment of Glory - II
11. Moment of Glory - (((
12. Decline
13. Living Memory
Bibliography
Index
