The Saffrons

Mead Road,
Eastbourne, England

Profile

The Saffrons first hosted cricket in 1884, although cricket has been played at various venues around the town since the 1750s. The main Victorian pavilion was destroyed by fire in 1947 - its replacement was also damaged by fire in 1977.

Sussex first played on the ground in 1897 and continued fairly regularly until 2000. For a number of years HDG Leveson-Gower's XI played matches, and in 1921 an England XI captained by the veteran Archie MacLaren inflicted a remarkable defeat on Warwick Armstrong's all conquering Australians. But Sussex ditched the venue after complaints about the standard of the facilities. The land is also home to Eastbourne FC.

The name derives from the fact that saffrons, used for dying and in medicine, were once to be grown on the land.
Martin Williamson

Travel
Parking is plentiful on the ground and in surrounding streets. Eastbourne station is about half a mile away (15 minutes walk). There are buses which pass the venue.

Map Click here

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Latest Photos

May 10, 1910

A county match at The Saffrons, Eastbourne in about 1930
© Wisden

May 10, 1910

The pavilion at The Saffrons, Eastbourne in about 1910
© Wisden

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