Mote Park        

Maidstone, England

Profile

On the edge of picturesque Mote Park, The Mote is one of the better outgrounds on the English first class fixture list. The pavilion makes The Mote reminiscent of every minds' eye picture of an English rural cricket ground. Due to its presence, amid landscaped terracing, the full playing area is visible from all but a few places. The size of the playing area is not large, which can contribute to high scores under the right conditions.

The ground was opened in 1857 and Kent first played on it two years later, and thereafter until 1907 when, in that winter, the ground was levelled and the square turned by 90 degrees to its present spot. The main two-tier pavilion was built in 1909-10, and that year Kent returned and they have been regular visitors ever since. Although the estate was passed to Maidstone Borough Council in 1928, the cricket ground was excepted and passed over to Mote CC.

The record attendance on the ground was in 1948 when 8000 watched the game against Essex.
Cricinfo staff

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Notes

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Latest Articles

• A brief history of the Mote (Jul 30, 1999)

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Latest Photos

1964

A general view of Maidstone in 1964
© Playfair Cricket Monthly

1932

Sussex on the way to victory over Kent in 1932
© Wisden Cricket Monthly

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