What are crickets

[sigma]

Near where I live close to the Derbyshire Leicestershire border is a pub called the Crickets Inn. It appears on a map dated 1791. To what is the name referring

[jno]

too early for Buddy Holly and probably a bit early for the sport as well. Could it just be local insects?

[mike11111]

Certainly not too early for the sport. Cricket is also a dialect word for a small stool. Might of course just be a family name.

[jno]

yes, you're right about the sport, mike, though it was another century before Derbyshire CC was founded. I'm not sure about what 'a cricket' would be in the context of a pub name, though; I'd have expected 'The Cricketers'.

[Robinia]

If it's the one I'm thinking of it's spelt with a double t - Cricketts.
If you go in thereask them, many pubs have records or know of their history

[jno]

if it's this one

http://www.crickettsinn.com/

it only lays claim to 1863 on the website

[ABerrant]

Trade directories from the C19th covering the Netherseal parish tend to name the establishment as "Cricket Inn" until 1863.

Pigot's Commercial Directory of Derbyshire, 1835:
Cricket Inn, Helen Hutchinson, Stretton-in-le-Fields

White's History, Gazetteer & Directory of Leicestershire & Rutland, 1846:
Talbot Andrew, vict. Cricketers Inn

Slater's Directory of Derbyshire, 1850:
Cricket, Richard Street, Nether Seal

Post Office Directory of Leicestershire, by Kelly & Co., 1855:
Newbold Thomas, Cricket inn (also listed as Wheelwright)

Commercial Directory of Leicestershire, by E.S. Drake & Co., 1861:
Nichols John, vict. Cricket Inn

History, Gazetteer, and Directory of the Counties of Leicester and Rutland, by William White, 1863:
Cricketers' Inn, Robert Lees

Postal & Commercial Directory of Leicestershire, by J.G. Harrod & Co., 1870:
Brotherhood -, Cricketts inn

Directory of Leicestershire & Rutland, by Kelly & Co., 1881:
Brotherhood John, Crickets inn, Acresford

Directory of Leicestershire, by C.N. Wright, 1887-88:
Brotherhood John, v. Crickets’ Inn

Directory of Derbyshire, by Kelly & Co., 1899:
Brotherhood John, Crickets inn

http://freepages.gene...rett/seal/seal_td.htm

[sigma]

The entry "Trade directories from the C19th covering the Netherseal parish tend to name the establishment as "Cricket Inn" until 1863. " refers to the inn
Still no wiser but thanks