NOTABLE VILLAGE EVENTS
Rev. Harold Smith
George Hurst
Katherine
Hallett
Becky
Wright
Bill Kingston
Wyn Smith
(wife of Rev. Harold)
Rev. Harold
Smith
Hugh Lindsay
Carole Lindsay
Ray (Grizzly)
Wright
Roger
Gaines ?
1979 Street Fair
1981 Street Fair
1982 Auction
Rosie
Hallett
Jackie
Brock
Eddie
Fry
Janice
Hearn
Rev. Harold
Smith
Kim Stowe
A browse through the archives of the local press, Bridport News, Western Gazette and the, now defunct, Dorset Chronicle, reveals some
interesting stories about life in Litton Cheney during the last two centuries. Articles on the annual fetes of the Friendly Society, which were
published, in glowing terms and at great length, for many years, are dealt with separately HERE. Other stories, from 1826 until 2018 have
been collated in the following files.
HISTORIC ARCHIVE
ABOUT LITTON CHENEY
September 1981
Cricket Through the Ages
Village Fete at ‘The Cottage’
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations May/June 2022
The Jubilee celebrations proved to be a joyous occasion for Litton Cheney as can be seen here
Litton Teams in the 1920’s/30’s (precise dates unknown)
The Ups and Downs of Litton Cricket Over 250 Years
The village cricket pitch was in Court Close, owned by the Legge family at The Court House but farmed by Thomas Fry of Baglake.
The first known matches were in 1873 with home and away matches against Coombe. The return match was played on Tuesday
21
st
October which resulted in an easy win by the Coombe men by six wickets.
1875
In August Litton lost to Pymore. The Litton team was J. Shepherd, R. Honeybun, J. Symes, E. Bligdon, John Bowditch, James
Bowditch, R. Rolls, N. Roper, J. Wakely, T. Fry and C. Lacey.
1876
In a Tuesday match Mr. Rolls XI beat Litton by 17 runs. Scores: Mr. Rolls XI 28 and 108 total 136, Litton 59 and 60 total 119.
A match on September 19
th
saw Mr. Beale’s XI beat Abbotsbury by 3 runs. Scores Mr. Beale’s XI 68 and 44. Abbotsbury 65 and 44
for 6.
Abbotsbury beat Litton, by four wickets. Scores Litton 35 and 38, Abbotsbury 35 and 44 for 6. The first innings tie caused great
excitement amongst the spectators as to the result of the second. Litton team: H. Fry, G Peach, G. Bowditch, R. Fry, J. Gale, C.
Lacey, T. Fry, J. Tolley, G Fry and C Gee.
1877
Litton (100 and 40) lost to Burton Bradstock (118 and 107). The Litton team was: Rolls, R. Fry, Tolley, Bligdon, Sheppard, Legge, H.
Fry, Gale, Ellery, T. Fry and Thorner.
Litton beat Mr. Dawes XI at Pymore. The bowling of Bowditch and Close was much admired and Close and Symes batted well.
Litton scored 66 and 63, Mr. Dawes XI 41 and 61.
Abbotsbury beat Litton, with four wickets to fall and six runs to spare. The first innings proving a tie, caused excitement amongst the
spectators as to the result of the second, and whether time would permit completion. Litton 35 and 38, Abbotsbury 35 and 44. Litton
team: H. Fry, G. Peach, G. Bowditch,
R.
Fry, H. Hansford, J. Gale, C. Lacey, T. Fry, J. Tolley, G. Fry, C. Gee.
1880
On a Wednesday in May Litton and Compton Valence played on a ground, kindly lent by Thomas Fry. The band of the 1
st
D.R.V.
played music during the day and Mr. Trump of Bridport catered the refreshments. For Compton the play of J. Daw and J. Gale was
worthy of notice, the former scoring 53, the latter 37 and the innings closed for 117 runs. Litton faced the bowling of Daw and Gale,
only H. Fry and John Vine making a stand, the score being 78. The Compton men on taking to the "willow" for the 2
nd
innings saw
wickets fall rapidly to the bowling of H. Fry and R. Dewes-Gibson (captain), who took five wickets within the space of 12 minutes
and Compton scored just 49. The Litton men, with the magnificent play of J. Vine, T. Gale and T. Fry soon won a victory, with two
wickets to spare. Mr. Vine, who made 41, and T. Gale and T. Fry, 11 each (not out) gave material help towards winning the match.
1881
A match played on Wednesday June 8" against Mr. Daw's XI from Winterbourne was won by Litton, who played well, with one
innings and 17 runs to spare. Litton: R. Fry, Hyde, Shephard, A. Vine, J. Vine, Gale, C. Vine, Saunders, Shiner, T. Fry, Ellery.
A return match with Abbotsbury was played at Litton on a Thursday in September and resulted in a win for the visitors. Litton:
R.
Fry,
Gale, Hyde, Vine, Sansom, A. Saunders, Gladwyn, A. Saunders, T. Fry, W. Bligdon, H. Fry.
1882
Litton played Long Bredy on a Friday in August. Litton 21 and 27 (Sheridan taking 10 wickets in the match), Long Bredy 96
(Sheridan 43). The Litton team was R. Fry. H. Fry, Gale, Legg, Vine, Strange, Ellery, Notton, Thorner, H. Fry and Bligdon.
1894
Abbotsbury was alive on a Thursday in June with cricketers and their many fair friends, the home team playing Litton Cheney.
Messrs. Manfield contributed greatly to a decisive win for Abbotsbury. Tea was provided afterwards at the Hotel. Abbotsbury 103 (S.
Manfield 67, Guntrippe 4 wickets), Litton 47 (Guntrippe 24, S. Manfield 8 wickets and H. Manfield 2 wickets). Litton: Bowditch, Cox,
A. Whetham, Guntrippe, Rev F. Crick, Saunders, H. Legge, W. Hansford, E. Hansford, G. Gale and F. Godding.
1896
A match that had been looked forward to with interest, took place on September
7,
in a field lent by Thomas Fry of Baglake,
between married and single men of Litton. After a well contested game the single men were victorious by one run and one wicket to
spare. The Rev. F.W. Crick, J. Bowditch, S. Miller, S. Fry, B. Bowditch, F. Godding, did good work for their sides, and the game was
witnessed by several visitors. The teams adjourned to the well-known hostelry, the White Horse Inn, where they, with friends and
visitors, numbering about fifty, sat down to an excellent supper provided by Host Greening. Rev. Crick presided with T. Fry and
Master C. Fry, Mr. H.B. Legge, F. Hounsell, Master G. Hounsell (Coombe Farm), J. Bowditch, C. Vine, R. Fry, L. Pitcher, B.
Bowditch, M. Moore, T. Miller, R. Guppy etc. Supper having been thoroughly enjoyed, various toasts were proposed, and songs
were given by H.B. Legge, F. Hounsell, G. Cox, F. Godding, J. Travers and others. Cheers were given to Mr. Fry for the use of his
field, to Rev. Crick for presiding, and to Mr. H.B. Legge. The singing of the National Anthem brought to a close one of the
pleasantest evenings that had been enjoyed for some time.
1899
Steepleton scored 56, Litton Vale 102 (M. Scott 36, C. Scott 20, H. Legge 15). Mrs. Scott provided tea for the players at the Rectory.
Reverend W. Scott had charge of the parish this year and his sons (and wife) were a strong addition to the team.
1905
Litton played Stratton at Wracklesford in August losing by an innings and 61 runs. Litton scored 49 and 17, Stratton 137. Reverend
H Caryl and A, Pope played well for Stratton. L Hansford and C, Wakely batted well for Litton.
Following the First World War, matches restarted in 1919 with a game against Long Bredy.
1920
Long Bredy defeated Litton Vale on Whit-Monday, with a score of 84 runs against 27. The scorer for the winning side was Mr.
Chapple Cox and Miss Betty Legg acted in that
capacity for Litton Vale.
There were a number of spectators, among whom were Mrs.
Gribble, the Rev. F. Crick and Mrs. Crick. Mrs. Gribble provided tea for the whole assembly.
1923
In July, Litton played Portland Red Triangle. Litton were all out for 26 runs, with Dennis taking 6 for 11. Portland Red Triangle quickly
knocked up 57 and put Litton in again, when they only made 19 for 9, five of which were extras.
1926
The Captain and Vice-Captain's teams played. against each other The Vice-Captain's XI scored 14 with no player reaching double
figures. The Captain's XI responded with 67 (Staples 19, W. Bums 10). For the Vice-Captain’s side, L. Legg took 2 for 22, J. Wakely
5 for 27 and C. Travers 3 for 11For the Captain’s side, F Mills bowled well in taking 5 for 3 and C. Wakely 3 for 7.
1929
Martinstown won by 3 runs at Litton. Westmacott took 5 for 2 for Martinstown. C. Wakely took 5 for 7 and W. Wakely 3 for 11 for
Litton Vale. The winners made 35 runs.
Litton Vale lost by 21runs to Dorchester Depot Barracks. Depot compiled 36 and Litton in the face of bowling from Dicks and Scott,
could only muster 15.
1933
In July, Evershot played Litton Cheney at Melbury Park, the home side winning by 40 runs. Evershot 71 (Clark 6 for 26, Wakely 3 for
22). Litton 31 (H. Clark 17) and 35 for 9.
1935
By beating Cattistock at Bridehead, Litton Vale passed to the final of the Dorset County Cup Division 2. Cattistock scored 34, Litton
Vale 82 (B. Clarke 24, W. Wakely 28), H. Clarke took 6 for 8.
1938
Litton lost to Charmouth by 18 runs. Scores: Litton (J. Wakely 13, L. Legg 12) 65. Charmouth 83, M Toms was the best bowler of
the day taking seven Charmouth wickets for 19 runs. Wakely took 2 for 20 and Legg 1 for 16.
2023
Litton Cheney played Bride Vale at Bridehead to celebrate the 150" anniversary of Litton’s first known game. Litton team was R.
Kingston, P. Kingston,
J.
Mulhall, T. Williams, M. Greaves, E Maltby, P. Gull and P. Gladden.
Success!! - Winning Teams Playing Under the White Horse Banner
WHITE HORSE LITTON CHENEY - CROSBY CUP WINNERS 1988
WHITE HORSE LITTON CHENEY - BRIDPORT CC EVENING CUP WINNERS 1984
1984 - Bridport News Knock-out Cup Winners
1986 - Crosby Cup Winners & Bridport Evening Cup Runners-up
Telephone for Bookings: 01308 482539
The suggestion to reform a village cricket team was initially proposed by David Saddington who was landlord at the White
Horse from October 1982 until October 1984. Various fund raising events were held (mostly, of course, involving the
consumption of alcohol), in order to purhase a set of cricket gear. A team was entered in local evening events in Bridport under
the name of the White Horse, rather than Litton as not all members lived in the village. As can be seen from the articles below,
it met with considerable success ver the next few years.
1988 - Crosby Cup Winners