Historic photographs of stoolball

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Three daughters of Revd William de St Croix, mid-1870s
Three daughters of Revd William de St Croix, mid-1870s

The photograph above was shared with us by Andrew Lusted. It is from the mid-1870s and shows three daughters of Revd William de St Croix in the garden of Glynde Vicarage with a stoolball bat at their feet. They are, left to right:

  • Ethel Augusta de St Croix, born 1864
  • Caroline Agnes de St Croix, born 1850
  • Emma Martha de St Croix, born 1853

Revd William de St Croix compiled the first rules of stoolball in 1867. You can read the story of his family and stoolball in 'The Glynde Butterflies 1866-1887' by Andrew Lusted.

Iolanthe Stoolball Club from Balcombe, East Sussex circa 1900
Iolanthe Stoolball Club from Balcombe, East Sussex circa 1900
Hailsham Ladies Stoolball team (or possibly Lewes), probably in the early 20s
Hailsham Ladies Stoolball team (or possibly Lewes), probably in the early 20s
Nutley School, Class 5, 1928
Nutley School, Class 5, 1928

Nutley School back row, left to right: Mabel Stevens, Alice Penfold (13 years old), Winnie Bishop, Miss Payne (class teacher), Vera Stevenson, Winnie Wickham, Betty Sad

Middle row, left to right: Edie Sayers, Ethel Kirby, Olive Ridley (captain), Maudy Ridley, Elsie Stevenson

Seated at front: Dolly Sayers (scorer)

Class V16 Oxbridge Lane boys playing stoolball in Stockton-on-Tees in July 1932
Class V16 Oxbridge Lane boys playing stoolball in Stockton-on-Tees in July 1932

This photograph from Stockton-on-Tees is reproduced with the permission of Stockton Library Service. Please contact them if you would like to use it for any other purpose.

The stoolball team at Drefach School, West Wales, 1933
The stoolball team at Drefach School, West Wales, 1933
Marigolds stoolball team, Three Bridges, West Sussex in the 1950s
Marigolds stoolball team, Three Bridges, West Sussex in the 1950s
N Cochrane of Lewes making stoolball bats

The photo above shows N Cochrane, a cricket bat maker in Lewes, East Sussex, making stoolball bats. The Lewes, Newhaven, Seaford and District Directory 1951-1952, a Silver Eagle Publication, lists N Cochrane, cricket bat maker, 66 South Street, tel 947.

The photo was kindly sent to us by Andrew Lusted, author of The Glynde Butterflies 1866-1887.

Southover Primary School, Lewes, Golden Jubilee team 2002
Southover Primary School, Lewes, Golden Jubilee team 2002