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The Artillery Ground in Finsbury is an open space originally set aside for archery and later known also as a cricket venue. Today it is used for military exercises and, in the summer months, rugby and football matches. It belongs to the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC),〔(From Lads to Lord's – 1638 ). Retrieved on 21 April 2009.〕 whose headquarters, Armoury House, overlook the grounds. From 1498, about of the Bunhill Fields were set aside for the practice of archery and shooting. Today's site was given to the Artillery Company in 1638. In the eighteenth century it was the home of the original London Cricket Club. Before the creation of the Hambledon Club in the 1760s, the Artillery Ground was the featured venue of all London cricket. It eventually fell into disrepute because of uncontrolled gambling and ceased to be used for major cricket, the last known match taking place in 1778 some years after the London Club had disbanded. ==18th century cricket== In the 18th century sources, the Artillery Ground was said to lie "between Chiswell Street and Bunhill Fields", the latter being a cemetery. It was referred to in contemporary reports as the "old" Artillery Ground, but this may be because it was used frequently for other forms of sport or entertainment.〔G. B. Buckley, ''Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket'', Cotterell, 1935.〕 In a report dated 23 June 1722 in the ''London Journal'', "the entrance to it is by a handsome pair of iron gates to the south side next Chiswell-Street".〔Maun, p. 26.〕 The earliest definite cricket match at the Artillery Ground took place on 31 August 1730 between London and Surrey. London won but no other details are known.〔H. T. Waghorn, ''Cricket Scores, Notes, etc. (1730-1773)'', Blackwood, 1899.〕 The ground quickly became London's first choice home venue with five matches recorded there in 1731: three against Dartford and two against Croydon.〔(Classification of cricket matches from 1697 to 1825 ). Retrieved on 21 April 2009.〕 A report in 1732 states that the playing area was staked out and roped off. This practice is first reported at Kennington Common the previous year and cricket is believed to be the first sport to enclose its venues. The Artillery Ground was charging spectators a two pence admission fee by the early 1740s and it is believed that the fee was introduced in the 1730s, cricket also being the first sport to charge for admission.〔(From Lads to Lord's – 1731 ). Retrieved on 21 April 2009.〕 By the 1740s, the Artillery Ground had become the sport's feature venue and for about twenty years it had a social status that only Lord's Cricket Ground has subsequently equalled. Single wicket was especially popular in the 1740s and huge crowds gambling huge sums of money were attracted to the ground whenever these contests took place. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Artillery Ground」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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