History of Sedbergh School in 50 Objects #21: Knowles Pavilion 1913
In the summer of 1913, the two storey cricket pavilion, complete with viewing balcony above, opened its doors for the first time. Writing a decade later Headmaster Weech wrote, ‘The new pavilion was the gift of Mr E. W. Knowles (O.S.) It contained changing-rooms for the visiting and School XIs, scorer’s room, baths and kitchen accommodation. Though the unsuccessful batsman may find the steps a too lengthy climb, no cricketer can wish for a finer view than that which he will get from the gallery across the vale of Rawthey to Baugh Fell.’
The pavilion was formally opened with a match against Mr H. D. G. Leverson-Gower’s XI. At that time it was common for the School to play informal composite teams, in addition to other Schools or clubs.
Cricket has been played at Sedbergh since 1841. In October of that year The Westmorland Gazette recorded that, ‘A cricket club has, within the last few weeks, been formed amongst the Gentlemen of the Free Grammar School and three or four others from the Town. And we have no doubt that with practice they would be enabled to play a friendly game.’ Their first match against Kirkby Lonsdale Cricket Club took place just days later. The following year Sedbergh played Kirkby Lonsdale again, at a neutral ground in Middleton. Stalls for the sale of nuts, oranges and ginger beer were set up with spectators arriving in donkey carts and farm wagons. It was clearly quite a spectacle.
The first Sedbergh cricket team photograph is a studio shot from 1857 complete with Victoriana style swagged curtains as a backdrop. The first cricket score book is from the same year, beginning the methodical recording of cricket at Sedbergh. Recorded in these scorebooks are the triumphs of house and School teams, and of course the achievements of individual players. Many men and women who have started their cricket career at Sedbergh have gone on to represent their county or country. J. H. Bruce Lockhart is the earliest recorded cricket international from Sedbergh, representing Scotland on several occasions in 1910 and 1911. ‘Mandy’ Mitchell-Innes represented Somerset while still at School and moved on to the Oxford University team where he set a record of 3,319 first-class runs that still stands today. He played a test match for England in 1935 but his career was limited by a combination of hay fever and work overseas. In the recent years Becky Glen, Sedbergh’s first women’s cricket international has played for Scotland, Durham and Yorkshire. Also a Yorkshire player, and still active is Harry Brook who has played for domestic teams in Australia, Pakistan and India. In 2024 he became the sixth Englishman to score a triple century in a test match when he represented England in a match against Pakistan. In April 2025 Harry Brook was named Captain of the England Cricket Team in both ODI and T20I formats. After coming to Sedbergh on a cricket scholarship Harry commented, ‘This scheme, and the generosity of the people who support it, gives people like me the opportunity to discover and grow their talents, and bring them to the wider world.’
The donor of Knowles pavilion, Eric Walter Knowles (S 1901 – 05) was himself a keen cricketer at School making the first team, as well as appearing on the XV and in frequent athletics fixtures. Knowles brother Jonathan Edward Knowles (S 1897 – 1898) was the first Sedberghian casualty of the first world war and one of the first British Officers to die in the conflict. Jonathan had been a career soldier, serving in the Boer War, India and Burma before being killed in action in Belgium on 23rd August 1914.
In addition to hosting cricket players and supporters, the pavilion has served many other functions. During the summer holidays of 1915 the pavilion was used as the mess-room for a month when a large-scale camp for Senior Cadets from across the United Kingdom was hosted on the Sedbergh School site. The top floor of the pavilion was converted to become the Masters’ Common Room Club in the Summer Term of 1974 and proved an immediate and lasting success due to the comfortable interior and suntrap balcony. Latterly the lower floor has been used for drama exam preparation meaning that staff above are treated to surprise singing and speeches from pupils below.
Knowles pavilion is one of the real jewels of Sedbergh School. The building has remained the heart of cricket at Sedbergh, the lower floor dedicated to celebrating the history of the sport, with photographs, honours boards and a display of artefacts on view. This iconic building is home to our longest played sport and holds memories for so many in our community.
