Lord's Cricket Ground

Lord’s Cricket Ground stands in St John’s Wood, part of the City of Westminster. Thomas Lord founded it in 1787 and moved it twice before settling on its present site in 1814. The Marylebone Cricket Club owns the ground and runs the world’s oldest sporting museum. Middlesex County Cricket Club plays home matches here, and the England and Wales Cricket Board has its headquarters on the site. The ground also once housed the International Cricket Council until 2005. Lord’s is worth visiting for its long history and many firsts in cricket. William Ward bought the ground in 1825 to save it from development, and the first University Match between Oxford and Cambridge took place here in 1827. The first double-century in cricket was scored at Lord’s in 1820, and the ground saw the first use of gas lighting on a cricket ground in 1838. The MCC purchased the freehold in 1866, allowing major improvements such as the first press stand. Visitors find the main Pavilion with its historic Long Room and dressing rooms. The MCC Museum displays famous cricket memorabilia and the Ashes urn. The ground slopes noticeably from the Grand Stand to the Tavern and Mound Stands, giving bowlers an uphill or downhill challenge. The Nursery Ground behind the Warner Stand offers practice facilities and more seating. The slope and the museum’s exhibits show how Lord’s has shaped the game for over two centuries.