A centuries-old tradition took place at the Vine on Wednesday 8 July, as a peppercorn and a cricket ball were ceremonially exchanged to mark the continued community use of the historic Vine Cricket Ground.
Cricketers and local councillors were among those who watched the symbolic Peppercorn Rent Ceremony with Lord Sackville, the Mayor of Sevenoaks Cllr Victoria Granville and Chairman of Sevenoaks Vine Cricket Club, Hugo Tudor.
Each year, Sevenoaks Vine Cricket Club presents Sevenoaks Town Council with a peppercorn as its annual rent. In return, the Town Council presents Lord Sackville with a cricket ball. This ceremony honours an agreement that has kept The Vine as a place for cricket and community.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Mayor of Sevenoaks Cllr Granville, reflected on the significance of the tradition, saying, “It is a pleasure to gather here at the Vine, one of Sevenoaks’ most treasured open spaces and one of the oldest cricket grounds in the country. This annual ceremony may be small in scale, but it carries more than two centuries of local history.
“When the land was given to the town in 1773, the peppercorn rent and cricket ball became symbols of trust, continuity and community use. Today, as we mark that tradition once again, we honour not only the generosity that secured this ground, but also the generations of players, volunteers and residents who have kept its spirit alive.
“May the Vine continue to be a place where sport, heritage and community come together for many years to come.”
