Brief profile of Arthur Shrewsbury by Don Ambrose

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Player:

A Shrewsbury

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SHREWSBURY, Arthur.
Professional.
Born at New Lenton, Nottinghamshire, 11th April 1856.
Died at Gedling, Nottinghamshire, 19th May 1903.
The son of William Shrewsbury, a licensed victualler, from Nottingham, he was educated at the People’s College, Nottingham and trained as a draughtsman. His early club cricket was with the Meadow Willow C.C. and subsequently the Nottingham Commercial Club where he came to the notice of the county officials and after a few trials in Colts matches made his debut for Nottinghamshire in 1875. From then until his death he was engaged by the County Club. In all he made 498 first-class appearances, 357 for Nottinghamshire and including 23 Test Matches. He toured North America in 1879, and Australia four times, 1881/2, 1884/5, 1886/7 and 1887/8. He was considered the leading professional batsman of his day. In 1880, together with Alfred Shaw, he opened a cricketing warehouse in Carrington Street, Nottingham, with which he was still associated up to his death. It was hoped that he would play for the county in the 1903 season but ill health prevented him from playing in the early fixtures and fear that he would never regain his place led him to shoot himself while staying at his sister’s home in Gedling.
His brother William played 9 games for Nottinghamshire 1875-79 and his nephew Arthur in three matches in 1898.
At the time of the census in 1881 he was staying with his widower father, William, at 2 Arkwright Street, Nottingham. His father was aged 54, a licensed victualler. Also there were his widowed sister Amelia Vasseur, aged 32, hotel manageress, and her two children Margaret aged 7 and Louisa aged 6 born in Calais, France. Arthur, aged 23 is a professional cricketer and his unmarried sister Louisa, aged 31 a hotel waitress. There are two general servants.

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)