Making history for 138 years
Nazeing Common Cricket Club was formed in 1883, under the encouragement of the local gentry, the Palmer family. We are one of the oldest Essex cricket clubs with a continuous existence.
Our ground at Nazeing Common is situated on land regulated by an Act of Parliament, the origin of which has a long history. After the disafforestation of Nazeingwood Common in 1285, the men of Nazeing had the exclusive right to pasture there. In the 17th century there was a dispute between the lord of the manor and his tenants about their respective rights in the common. This was settled in 1651 when James Hay, Earl of Carlisle, reserved to himself 100 acres of the pasture, and conveyed the remaining 420 acres to trustees for the use of the tenants of all the ancient houses in Nazeing, then numbering 101. This arrangement was confirmed by an Act of the Protectorate in 1657. A further regulation took place in 1778, when the common was falling into decay. William Palmer of Nazeing Park promoted an Act of Parliament to regulate the management and stocking of the common, and lent the villagers money to buy stock so that they could exercise their rights. To this day, in lieu of pasture, the cricket club pays rent to the tenants of Nazeing.
The cricket club has adopted the scallop shell as its badge, knowing that it is also used to represent the association both Nazeing Parish Council and Nazeing School have with pilgrimage, albeit for possibly different reasons:
for the Parish Council, it is the emblem of St. James (the patron saint of travellers) and the scallop was proudly worn by medieval pilgrims, who were also known as palmers. The assumption is, therefore, that the Parish Council adopted the scallop shell as its logo as a tribute to the Palmer family;
in the Nazeing school hall is a large oak plaque carved with the scallop and the school hymn, Who Would True Valour See, each verse of which ends with the line “To be a pilgrim”. The hymn was celebrating the pilgrim tradition which in Nazeing was continued by John Eliot and other puritans, who in the seventeenth century sought freedom of conscience in America.
We are honoured to play a part in the local Nazeing community, and the cricket club wears the badge with pride. Come on you Scallops!
With thanks to David Pracy
