Greatest Cricket Moments

Thomas Lord Loses His Original Ground — Dorset Square Notice, October 1808

1808-10-04n/aNotice of termination served on Thomas Lord by the Portman Estate, October 18082 min readSeverity: Mild

Summary

On 4 October 1808 the Portman Estate served formal notice on Thomas Lord that his lease on the Dorset Square ground — the original Lord's, opened in 1787 — would not be renewed. The land was wanted for housing. Lord had eight months to find a new ground. He did, and opened the Middle Ground at North Bank in May 1809; but the Dorset Square notice is the moment at which the original Lord's was lost.

Background

Lord had built his ground in 1787 on a 99-year lease, but the Portman Estate had break clauses. The break was triggered by the rapid northward expansion of London's residential development.

Build-Up

Building work on adjacent plots had begun in 1806. Lord had been warned informally in spring 1808 that the notice was coming.

What Happened

Thomas Lord had leased the Dorset Fields ground in Marylebone since 1787. The site was bordered by Dorset Street, Upper Berkeley Street and what is now Dorset Square. By 1808 the surrounding land was being developed for residential terraces and the Portman Estate wanted the ground for the same purpose. The October notice gave Lord until June 1809 to vacate. He immediately began searching for a new site. The replacement — the Middle Ground at North Bank, near the present St John's Wood — opened in May 1809. The original Lord's site was built over with the terraces that survive today as Dorset Square.

Key Moments

1

Spring 1808: Lord warned informally of the impending notice

2

4 Oct 1808: Formal notice served by the Portman Estate

3

Oct 1808-Apr 1809: Lord searches for and secures the North Bank site

4

May 1809: Middle Ground opens at North Bank

Timeline

1787

Lord opens the Dorset Fields ground

Spring 1808

Informal warning of impending notice

4 Oct 1808

Formal Portman Estate notice served

May 1809

Middle Ground opens at North Bank

1814

St John's Wood ground opens — the present Lord's

Aftermath

The Middle Ground was used until 1813, when a Regent's Canal extension forced a second move — to the present St John's Wood site, opened in 1814.

⚖️ The Verdict

The end of the original Lord's — and the start of the chain of moves that led to the present ground.

Legacy & Impact

The 1808 notice is the first link in the chain of three Lord's grounds. The sequence — Dorset Square (1787-1809), North Bank (1809-1813), St John's Wood (1814-present) — is the foundation story of the modern ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is anything of the original ground visible today?▾
The outline of the boundary survives as Dorset Square — a small London square ringed by Regency terraces. A plaque marks the site.
Why did Lord move to North Bank?▾
It was the cheapest large open site available within reach of central London on short notice. It in turn was lost to the Regent's Canal four years later.

Tags

#regency-cricket#underarm#lord-s-old-ground#thomas-lord#dorset-square#lord-s-old-ground#1808#iconic-moment#ground-closure

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