Following England’s success in defeating Australia to win the Ashes, DAVID MILLS hears how their original home was on a mantelpiece in Cobham.
THE ASHES is arguably cricket’s most iconic trophy, reflecting more than a century of epic rivalry between Australia and England.
Yet when they were initially presented to the English cricket team captain, Ivo Bligh in 1882, they were meant as a token of love, rather than for scoring the most runs.
At a house party at Rupertswood in Australia, the home of Sir William Clarke, President of the Melbourne Cricket Club, Ivo’s England won a friendly match.
Lady Clarke and some of the ladies in the party, including one Florence Rose Morphy, burned one of the bails and presented them to Ivo in the now famous pottery urn.
During the English team’s journey to Australia, Ivo and Florence had fallen in love, and the ashes were seen as a personal gift from her to him.
They married in 1884 and Ivo, who a couple of years later became the 8th Earl of Darnley, brought the ashes back to his family home at Cobham Hall, along with Florence, who as his wife became the Countess of Darnley.
For the next 43 years, the ashes were kept on display on a mantelpiece at the Hall.
There has always been uncertainty as to whether they were ashes of a bail, a stump or some other item of cricket equipment.
But the PR and events co-ordinator at Cobham Hall, Diana Usher, says that from reading letters written by the Countess, it was definitely a bail.
She said: “In the letters she wrote, she talks about her and Lady Clarke getting together and burning a bail.
“Ivo always thought of them as a personal gift, not a sports trophy. We always think of it as a love token.
“A lot of people don’t know how it originated, I don’t think we’ll ever know whose idea it was, but the Countess was certainly party to it.
“She was a really charming and well-loved lady who threw her heart and soul into the area.”
Ever since Ivo brought the ashes to Cobham, they have always been the prize of test match series between England and Australia.
However there is a possibility that the urn may contain bits of ash from the Hall’s fireplace, when the butler hurriedly picked it up after it was knocked off the mantelpiece by a housemaid, and its contents spilled out.
But whether this was true or not, we will never know.
After Ivo died, he bequeathed the ashes to Marylebone Cricket Club, where they have remained since 1927.
A replica urn has been presented to the victor of Australia-England test match series ever since.
WHAT ARE THE ASHES?
The Ashes is the name given to the cricket test match series between England and Australia, dating back to 1882.
After England lost to Australia at the Oval on August 29 in that year, the Sporting Times ran a mock obituary to English cricket stating: “The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.”
A few weeks later, Ivo Bligh set off to Australia, vowing to bring the ashes back.
Ironically it was in a friendly match that England triumphed, and the ashes of English cricket were brought back home.
Ivo thought the idea of the ashes would be forgotten, but instead it captured the public's imagination, and became the prize it is today.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here