Frinsted
Excerpts from Sittingbourne , Milton & District Directory 1908/1909
Frinsted is a pretty village situated 5 miles south from Sittingbourne and 3 miles from Harrietsham. The population in 1901 was 126 in the civil parish and 174 in the ecclesiastical parish. Nearly all the land in the parish belongs to Sir Edward Leigh-Pemberton of Warwick Square, London, who is Lord of the Manor.
Frinsted Cricket Club : Ground, Cope's Farm. Matches played Wednesdays and Saturdays. President, Rev. R du Faur Bryans; Captain V. W. Horton; Treasurer, A. Baker; Secretary, William Godwin
Frinsted & Milstead Cricket Club was formed in 1857 but didn't play a match until June 22nd 1858. That first match was against Chartham and things did not go as expected.
'This match (as we announced last week) was played at Chartham on Tues 22nd ult., and as it was the maiden match of the Frinsted and Milstead club, great excitement prevailed amongst it's members. This little club sprang into existence last year, and as several members then knew absolutely nothing of the game, it was deemed necessary to confine the play to practice only, on their own ground. With practice came strength of nerve, nerve begat confidence, and - the Chartham gentlemen this year were invited to a contest. The somewhat long distance between Milstead and Chartham was comfortably and jollily got over with the aid of a nice little team of four, hired for the occasion, of Mr Bowman of Sittingbourne; and driven in admirable style by Mr Bradley, the treasurer of the club. Milstead having won the toss, they placed Chartham at the wickets first, who, in a few cases, exhibited some excellent play; but unfortunately for them, - Parker Esq., a member of the Zingari and Marylebone Clubs, lost his wicket for the first ball that was bowled him. The batting of Messrs. Hills and Bourne was careful and very teasing for some time to the bowlers of their opponents. The ground was very bad, not from hardness but from holes which covered the ground; the fielding therefore was but poor. Five to one was freely offered against the Frinsted and Milstead at the beginning of their innings, and at the close of the game a considerable amount of money exchanged hands.
The following players were named.
CHARTHAM
Gould
Hill
Hearn
Parker
Bourne
Brett
Stevens
Birch
Allen
Videon
Dixon
FRINSTED & MILSTEAD
W. Ransome
D. Elston
F.R. Cooper
W. Wisenden
S. Bensted
T. Bradley
C. Easton
J. Ransome
H. Caryer
J.Thompson
R. Hilton
The club known as Frinsted & Milstead Cricket Club was established on May 15th 1857 and had a strict set of rules, amongst them were:-
'' That every member on being admitted should pay an entrance fee of one shilling and a further sum of two pennies weekly during the time of membership.''
It was felt by the club that'' the public house is ill befitting the purpose held in view in as much as great inducements are in consequence held out for convivial pleasure which lead to immorality and to destroy innocent recreation'' so they determined that the school room by permission shall be opened for the carrying on of the business of the club.
The first ground was the meadow by the school, apparently not always an easy wicket.
In 1877 Milstead and Frinsted went their separate ways and Milstead moved their ground to the Pond Meadow.
In the years since then the Frinsted Club has ceased to exist. The very successful Milstead Club is still thriving today.
Two views of Milstead Cricket Club taken in 2002
22/03/2008