2025 is a massive date in the history of women and girls’ cricket in Wales, with a team representing Glamorgan County Cricket Club and winning their first-ever match, against the Sussex Sharks at Sophia Gardens – just like their male counterparts had done back in 1921 in their inaugural County Championship encounter at the Arms Park.
It’s also the hundredth year of inter-schools cricket at Howell’s School, Llandaff with the first inter-schools match having taken place during June 1925 when Howell’s tied their match with Penarth County Girls School (now Stanwell School). The return game had to be cancelled owing to a clash with public examinations, but Howell’s first victory came the following year as they defeated Cardiff High School for Girls.
Howell’s School Llandaff, like its counterpart in Denbigh, north Wales had been founded during the middle of the 19th century thanks to the legacy of a prosperous Tudor merchant by the name of Thomas Howell who traded in Bristol, London and Seville and bequeathed 12,000 gold ducats to the Drapers’ Company in order to provide dowries for the education of women and girls.
In 1852 the Company took the decision to create two boarding schools in Wales, with ten acres of land purchased in both Llandaff and Denbigh. Recreational activities, rather than just mainstream curriculum subjects, were encouraged at Llandaff from April 1880 following the appointment as Head of Miss Maria Kendall. During her tenure until 1920, a phase of building improvements also took place at the school. By the turn of the century, the recreational activities in which the girls participated included tennis, croquet, hockey, cycling and swimming, whilst a gymnasium, built in 1906, allowed gymnastics to also be undertaken.
By the time Miss Kendall retired, Howell’s Llandaff had become the most prestigious secondary school for girls in Wales, with a roll-call of 95 boarders and 162 day-scholars. Her replacement, Miss Eleanor Trotter consolidated on these developments, with the 1920s witnessing improvements to the playing fields at the rear of the main school building. Athletics, lacrosse and cricket were able to be played, with the first inter-school cricket match taking place in June 1925.
This celebration of a centenary of cricket at Howell’s School is one of a series of new displays in the Museum of Welsh Cricket, with visitors also being able to watch a short bilingual film outlining the history of the women’s game in Wales. “We are delighted to be able to tell the story of the women’s game, alongside that of the men’s,” said Dr. Andrew Hignell, the Curator of the Museum of Welsh Cricket and Archivist to Glamorgan Cricket. “There are some fascinating stories to be told and, like our other refurbished information panels, these new facilities provide a visitor with a more immersive experience, besides being able to use the QR codes to link up with the Museum’s website plus our excellent stock of podcasts to learn more about the heritage of cricket in Wales.”
"We are incredibly proud to be celebrating 100 years of cricket at Howell’s School, Llandaff, “ said Hannah Roberts, the School’s Engagement Officer. “As one of the early champions of women’s cricket in Wales—having joined the Women’s Cricket Association in 1926—our school has long embraced the value of sport in empowering young women.”
“This proud tradition came to life on Tuesday 20th May, when our enthusiastic Year 3 and 4 cricketers visited Sophia Gardens for an inspiring morning at the Museum of Welsh Cricket and Sophia Gardens. Seeing Howell’s story featured in the special exhibition on Women’s Cricket, with contributions from our own archives, was a moving reminder of our enduring legacy. The girls left not only full of excitement, but deeply proud to be part of a school that has helped shape the history of women’s cricket in Wales.”