Who are we?
Broadhalfpenny Down is a beautiful cricket ground in Hampshire, opposite the Bat & Ball Inn.
Cricket was played here from around 1750 and, over the next three decades, the players and patrons of Hambledon were responsible for the development of new techniques and the laws of cricket, from the addition of a third stump to the size of the bat.
Their adaptations, and codification, of these laws, transformed cricket from an occasional country pastime to a national sport, which became an international sport in the following century.
The Broadhalfpenny Brigands play on the ground in a jovial spirit, typically in a traditional time format rather than limited overs. The ground also hosts the juniors of Hambledon Cricket Club and blind and visually impaired teams.
Today, volunteers maintain the ground and share the story of the ground and its importance in cricket history.
Why are we crowdfunding?
The aging pavilion was already leaking before Storm Darragh arrived, which ripped out more tiles and blew the iconic clock away.
The ground maintenance equipment is more than a decade old, the practice net is worn and the supports have been bent in the wind.
How we’ll spend the money raised
We will spend money raised in four areas;
Fixing the pavilion, and making it more welcoming and accessible to more people
Replacing broken mowers
Introducing a boundary rope
Replacing dangerous practice facilities.
Community impact
Broadhalfpenny Down hosts more than 60 cricket matches each year, for men, women, and juniors in local teams, and welcomes cricket-loving visitors who come to see the birthplace of First Class cricket.
We want to host more junior cricket, more women cricket, more disability cricket on the ground but current facilities don't support this.
How you can play your part
There are three simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Donate goods or services. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!