LA - I've been reading about a cricket match played on the 2nd June 1794 on Highgate Common,

[Ashberto]

which was between Southwood and Jackson's Lanes, between a team from Highgate, and a team from Kentish Town & Hampstead. The match was for a substantial wager of 400 guineas.

Highgate scored 76 and 127. Kentish Town & Hampstead managed only 14 and 59. Most of the latter's wickets were taken by messrs Anderson and Shard, who also opened the batting for Highgate.

I read about the above in John Richardson's book on Highgate. Looking online, I found that they met again, this time in Kentish Town, on the 4th August, where Highgate again won, dismissing their opponents for 22 and 10, having scored 37. Not a batsman's game in those days, it seems. I doubt Hampstead & Kentish Town wanted to put any money on it either, unless they were completely mad.

http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/314/314327.html (http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/314/314327.html)

[Luis Anaconda]

didn't bother recording who took the wickets. Very interesting though - wonder what pub they drank in afterwards. Is the book any good?

[Ashberto]

For example we learn that by 1841 there were 21 pubs in Highgate, including the Black Dog, and Cow & Hare, on the sites of what are now St Joseph's and St Anne's churches.

I expect that our cricketers would have taken refreshment at one of the many establishments along North Road & North Hill, such as:

Red Lion, 90 North Road
The Bull, 13 North Hill
The Castle, 56 North Road
The Bell & Horns, 31 North Road (later the petrol station)
The Victoria, 28 North Hill

I assume the Wrestlers and Red Lion & Sun were also around back then.

[Luis Anaconda]