Fenner’s Ground

Fenner’s

History of Fenner's

See: Town v Gown; City v Village A History of Cricket in Cambridge, Tony Watts (2025)

Francis Phillips Fenner founded the University of Cambridge cricket ground on land he leased in 1848.

See Wikipedia article:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenner%27s

The Caius College Building Estate in Barnwell – Jeremy Lander:

The remainder of Middle Field, west of the Jesus College land, was owned by Caius College and leased out on a yearly basis to various tenants. One such tenant was Fenner who held part of lot 4 and lot 5 and sub-let the ground to the University Cricket and Athletic Club as a sports field. Fenner was given notice to quit the land at Christmas 1867 and in 1873 the land was re-leased to the University Cricket Club for 21 years.

In 1892 the College agreed to sell the freehold of the land to the University Cricket Club for £12,000 on condition that ‘the land be secured as an open space for ever.’

In 2023 Mill Road History Society hosted a talk by Nigel Fenner on the history and legacy of Frank Fenner.