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The Origins Of The Way And Tillard Ground
(From Denham Parish Council, February 1987)
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It was in the early 1920s when the Lord of the Manor, Colonel Benjamin Irby Way, sold Denham Place thereby ending over 150 years of the Way family living in the house. The village cricket was played at Denham Place and a new home was needed for the team. Colonel "Ben" was on the Parish Council and amongst his friends and colleagues were Augustus "Gus" Bronsdon and Richard Morten. Gus owned Orchard Farm at the top of Cheapside Lane and farmed most of the land in the area including the field behind the Village School. |
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After much discussion it was agreed that this new 4 1/2 acre field would be where the village cricket team would be moved to when Denham Place became the property of new owners.
Captain Tillard of Maltmas Green, Denham had died in the 1914-18 war and Mrs Tillard provided a pavilion - long since gone - and the lime trees, still beautiful, as a memorial to her husband. On the 24th December, 1920 the Way and Tillard Memorial Ground was leased to the Parish Council for 3/- (15p) per Annum for the "purposes of games and sports each in its proper season by adults being inhabitants of the Parish of Denham". Richard Morten subsequently gave the gates at the entrance of the ground.
Eight years ago the Parish Council was able to obtain the land and children are now allowed on the ground.
Paul Graham, the present Clerk of the Parish Council, added "The Parish Council built a groundsman's bungalow in 1972 which was used as such until 2001 since when it has been privately tenanted".