Overview

In February 1872, Middlesex CCC leased a ground in Chelsea from the Prince family and three months later played their first game there. The problem for club and members was that cricket was always a secondary activity at the venue and there were no practice facilities. In 1876 the members voted to leave Prince's and head to Lord's, and the county's last match there was in July that year. During the period between 1872 and 1878, the ground vied to be a major centre, annually hosting Gentlemen v Players and South v North matches. In 1878 it staged two games featuring the Australians, but as cricket declined, tennis took over. In 1881, the Varsity match (tennis) was played there, but in 1883 the whole site was sold for development.
Martin Williamson