Place Name
A reference to the Old Trafford cricket ground in Greater Manchester, that has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since 1864. It is the second oldest Test venue after The Oval and hosted the first Ashes Test in England in July 1884. The site was first used as a cricket ground in 1857, when the Manchester Cricket Club moved onto the meadows of the de Trafford estate. Initially only attracting small crowds it saw a significant increase in attendance during the Roses match of 1875. When WG Grace brought Gloucestershire in 1878, Old Trafford saw 28,000 spectators over three days, and this provoked improvements to access and facilities. It is one of a cluster of roads that are named with a cricketing connection recalling the land’s former use. The land on which this street was laid out was originally part of Hope Farm, but by the 1930s much of Hainault was being developed for residential use. Although this area was originally set aside as a sports ground it went under the diggers and was used for further homes sometime in the 1980s.
