BOBBY ABEL (CRICKET)
Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 6:08 am
Robert (Bobby) Abel, nicknamed “The Guv’nor”, Surrey & England opening batsman. Born in Commercial Road, Rotherhithe in 1857 & sadly died in 1936 totally blind. He played most of his earlier cricket in Southwark Park, where a Blue Plaque has been erected in his honour. Southwark Park was the original home of the Oval and you can still see the banks where spectators watched some of England’s greatest players, in particular Bobby Abel who was the first Englishman to carry his bat in a test innings and he still holds the record for the highest score for Surrey CC with his knock of 357 in 1899. Even when he was playing for Surrey he still remembered his roots & would return from time to time to play in Southwark Park. Not to sure about Commercial Road, as I can’t seem to locate it. I know there was a Commercial Street Off Lower Road in the 1860s, so maybe someone can confirm one way or the other.
Located Commercial Road (1860). It ran across the Market Garden ,which was there at the time, before it became Southwark Park. A rough idea of where it run at the time, is from Gomm Road and towards Hawkstone Road and at the back of Orange Place, which is off Lower Road
Located Commercial Road (1860). It ran across the Market Garden ,which was there at the time, before it became Southwark Park. A rough idea of where it run at the time, is from Gomm Road and towards Hawkstone Road and at the back of Orange Place, which is off Lower Road