Our history
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6. Our history


A brief history of Mill Hill Village Cricket Club

Although Mill Hill Village cricket began officially in 1868, records of the
existence of a cricket club in the area are contained in the accounts kept by the
incumbent of St Paul’s Church in 1852.

There is also reference to a team representing the village against a Mill Hill School XI three years later.

From the archive: Mill Hill Village names club's best XI of all time

The first report of a game in the locality in the Hendon Times was in 1876, when the working men of Mill Hill played the Hendon Institute of Working Men. In those early years Mill Hill Village were always on the move.

Their first home ground was a field opposite the Adam and Eve pub. By 1887, the Jubilee Year, the fixture between the President’s XI and the club was played at Arran Dene the private ground of the then president, Mr J A Johnson.

Further moves followed to the “Donkey Field” near Wills Grove, then Hammers Lane, where St Paul’s Vicarage now stands: on to the foot of Holcombe Hill – at the rear of Bentley’s House, opposite The Forge.

During 1908 and 1910 a rift in the club caused a parting of the ways and the
formation of two Mill Hill clubs.

The Village remained at Holcombe Hill until 1914, whilst Mill Hill CC made their headquarters at Bunns Lane where they remained, until falling out of existence in the early part of this century.

Officially renamed Mill Hill Village Cricket Club in 1922, a new ground was found for the club at picturesque Nan Clarke Lane. Here began an era of fine cricket from a great side until the ground was commandeered for military purposes in 1940.

During the war years, the Village became a wandering side again before a final move to what has become our permanent home, Burtonhole Lane. There was also another change of name, to Mill Hill Village Cricket and Athletic Club to incorporate the winter activities, football and hockey.

From the archive: A look back on Mill Hill Village's postwar years by Ron Sargeant

In 1968, under the new banner Mill Hill Village Sports Club, came the Centenary celebrations.

The Village is a club that has grown up in an area that still retains the rustic
beauty of yesteryear.

Within it is a family tradition that has seen successive generations all playing, and volunteers helping with teas, scoring and umpiring duties.

Perhaps the never-changing environment of nature has helped to produce this tranquillity and peace.

From the archive interview: A look back on the 2022 season, MHVCC's most successful for 30 years