5. The MacNivens of Perrysfield

Edward MacNiven was Oxted's first Cricketer of first-class standing and played first-class cricket for Cambridge University, Surrey and various amateur sides between 1846 and 1851, before his early death aged 32 in a 'Dog Cart accident' near Oxted.

MacNiven is pictured amongst stellar Cricketing Company in the accompanying picture from 1847 “The Town and University of Cambridge” , which we are grateful for permission from the MCC Library to use.

Created in 1847 by the renowned ,this Cricketer and Artist Nicholas Felix this lithograph was the earliest group portrait of a town or university cricket club, and is believed to be only the second of any cricket team, ( the very first being Felix’s portrait of Clarke’s “Eleven of England”, painted in the same year.)

MacNiven stands hatless to the right of the first group of players as you view the picture . For a detailed account of each subject in this celebrated picture you are recommended to visit Mr W Sugg's excellent history of Cambridgeshire Cricket
https://www.cambscrickethistory.co.uk/new-writing/

MacNiven's family lived in Perrysfield, Broadham Green and were believed to be instrumental in forming the oldest known Cricket Club, Oxted United CC, in, or before 1870. The club's fixtures are all recorded as being played on Broadham Green, very probably on a site now occupied by Tandridge Golf Club

The first President was E MacNiven's Father, Charles who remained in position until 1893, when the team seems to have merged into Oxted & District Cricket Club.

Edward MacNiven is buried in the family tomb, immediately adjacent to the Church Door of St Mary's, Oxted.

Trees slightly obscure the view from the Church of the cricket square now, but surely Patrick Murphy’s assessment in the Rothman’s Book of Village Cricket (1992) “..so long as man can play cricket in front of Norman churches like St Mary's, there will always be enthusiasm for the game" remains as true as ever.