Broadhalfpenny Down Marks a Landmark Year in Style Following last year's fundraising, we have been busy during the winter months upgrading the pavilion. We have begun improving the car park area to cope with wet days, thanks to the support of Winchester City Council. We have installed a new hot water system and heating to ensure our visitors are comfortable. Thank you to everyone involved who have put in so much time and effort over the winter. 2026 is a celebratory year with

On match days in the 18th century, cricket at Hambledon was as much about money as runs. For a typical fixture, about 20,000 people would descend on Broadhalfpenny Down, two miles outside the village, arriving with horses from as far away as Reading, Tonbridge Wells and London. The crowd needed feeding and watering, and an entire pop-up economy obliged: tents and banners selling food and drink, punch and pies, and stalls offering bats alongside bookmakers’ ledgers. Tradesmen

We do not see much sledging on Broadhalfpenny Down. Matches are friendly, the setting is tranquil, and the players are usually too nice. In recent years, Mo Ali has delivered the odd send-off. Liam Shrehorn has given as good as he got, and Andrew Ainslie has been known to take his frustration out on the opposition. It's more subtle these days; Ladenburg Junior was nicknamed "Aussie Tom" by the Australian High Commission, Rafi Abdeen christened on field as "Baby Murali", and

20 reasons why Broadhalfpenny Down remains one of cricket’s most charming stages, where history hangs in the air, and the scorebook reveals a few surprises.

The new pavilion was opened on 22 June 1999, after years of planning, fundraising, and construction. The old "hutt" had been outgrown, and facilities no longer met Hampshire League standards, so a new pavilion was commissioned. Initial plans met with objections from some, including former journalist Ashley Mote. Almost two years later, friends, donors, and supporters gathered on a Tuesday midsummer evening for champagne and speeches.

Pathe News was on hand to capture the famous match between The Eskimos and The Invalids in 1929 ... the match was interrupted by horses...

Local photographer Dan Bennett from Havant, shared this incredible shot of star trails in the night sky that he took at Broadhalfpenny Down. The light from the Bat & Ball helped to illuminate the pavilion, and the camera mounted on a tripod and looking North was, as Dsan describes, on a "particularly cold evening". A beautifully composed shot.

On 23 September 1771, amidst the flint and flannel of Georgian Surrey, a bat was raised, not in triumph, but in challenge. It was wider...

For over 25 years, the Broad Halfpenny Down Association (BHDA) and the Preservation Trust (BDPT) have been charged with the promotion and...