About Blackheath
Cricket was first played at Blackheath in 1878. Around that time houses started to be built here on the hill for workers from the Chilworth Gunpowder Company which was located beside the River Tillingbourne in the valley below, and it was those workers who founded the cricket club on the edge of their village.
Almost 150 years later Blackheath is no longer the only centre of activity for the club, but still surrounded by miles of protected woodland and with a magnificent new Arts&Crafts-style pavilion it remains our headquarters and the heart of everything we do.
Upcoming Events At Blackheath
Hire the Tangley Pavilion
The Tangley Pavilion was completed in May 2013 at a cost of around £400,000 and is one of the finest village cricket pavilions anywhere in the country. The traditional exterior, based on an 1896 sketch by Arts and Crafts Architect Charles Harrison Townsend, is complemented by a fully modern interior with all the facilities required for private functions.
There is a large modern club-room which looks out over the beautiful cricket ground and can seat up to about 70 diners. In summer the bi-fold doors can be opened out to give a spectacular uninterrupted view across the ground and the heath. A separate marquee can also be made available. Tables and chairs, crockery, cutlery and glassware can all be supplied.
There is a fully equipped kitchen and a well-stocked bar (in addition to our usual range of wines, local ales and lagers, we are happy to buy in any requested alternatives). We supply bar staff and can also supply kitchen assistants and waiting staff if needed - we are happy to put together a package to suit your requirements.
Other facilities include a large flat-screen TV which can be used for presentations or slideshows, and there are also a pool table, table football and darts board if required.
If you are interested in hiring the pavilion, please contact club secretary Simon Jones at blackheathjones@gmail.com or on 01483 892860.
A Brief History of Cricket At Blackheath
1067: Blackheath is referred to in the Domesday Book as the Blachedfeld Hundred, an area of land stretching from Wotton in the East to Godalming in the West and from Woking in the North to Sussex in the South.
1833: The first modern settlers begin building houses on the heath and the village of Blackheath is born.
1864: Queen Victoria visits the village to attend the Volunteer Review, a military exercise conducted by volunteer reservists. The Illustrated London News reports that a grand spectacle was marred only by the accidental shooting of the local parish priest the Rev.W.Earle! (The modern cricket ground is roughly the area where the two opposing "sides" would have met and The Volunteer Arms, now The Villagers (currently closed), was built in 1867 in honour of the event).
1878 Cricket is played at Blackheath for the first time. Initially the team consists of workers from the Chilworth Gunpowder Company, for whom several of the houses in the village were built.
1945-50:The basis of the modern square and outfield are laid.
1957: After many years using the Forest King pub (now 'Heath House', but previously known as 'High Hazard') as an unofficial HQ, the club moves into the newly built pavilion.
1972: Blackheath enters the new Haig National Village Competition (now sponsored by The Cricketer magazine).
1976: Blackheath is a founder member of the Arun Valley League.
1978: Blackheath celebrate 100 years of cricket up at Heath. For a bit of nostalgia, you can download a record of the first 100 years at Blackheath Cricket Club that was published as the "A Century at Blackheath" in 1978. The editing committee were Tim Bryers, Charlie Hockley, Eric Holes, John Macdonald and Ken Stephens.
A Century at Blackheath (Part I).pdfA Century at Blackheath (Part II).pdf
1978 Centenary Season Album.pdf
1988: Having won the Arun Valley League several times the club moves into the Morrant Three Counties League
1989: We win promotion to Division I of the League in only our second year of membership.
1990: As structured league cricket takes hold in Surrey Blackheath is a founder member of the Fullers Brewery Surrey County League.
1997: We reach the national quarter finals of the Cricketer National Village Competition.
1999: Double promotion year - the 1st XI are champions of the Fullers League and win promotion into the Surrey Championship and the 2nd XI won Division 2. We also won the award for the 'Best kept cricket ground' in the Surrey Best kept Village competition.
2003: Blackheath celebrates 125 years of cricket on the heath with a grand Summer Ball.
2000: Junior cricket is revived at Blackheath after a gap of several years. Over the next decade the junior section rapidly goes from strength to strength.
2006: Blackheath wins 'Best Kept Village Ground' from the Surrey Playing Fields Association.
2007: Blackheath joins the I'Anson Leagues with the 1st XI in Division 4 and 2nd XI in Division 5. Blackheath 1st IX achieve promotion to Division 3.
2009: Blackheath 1st XI are promoted to I'Anson Division 2 as champions of Division 3. I'Anson add another Division to the league and the 2nd XI are now playing in Division 6.
2010: Blackheath 1st XI are promoted to I'Anson Division 1.
2013: The new "Tangley Pavilion" is opened. A 3rd XI league team is entered into I'Anson League Division 6.
2014: Winners of the I'Anson Stevens Cup.
2015: I'Anson League 1 Champions.
2018: Girls play formal cricket matches at Blackheath for the first time.
2019: I'Anson League 1 Champions. The club acquires a new second ground at Grafham.
2020: Grafham becomes the formal home of our new Ladies and Girls squads.
2023: I'Anson League 1 Champions for the 3rd time, and the 3rd XI are promoted from Div6 to Div5.
