A direct link to the past – Henry “Harry” Clayton (1898 – 1979)
Lowerhouse Second Eleven won their league for the first time in 1900, for a second time in 1923, and then again in 1927. They didn’t win it again until the very last match of this 2026 season. And now in a remarkable twist of fate, we have a direct link to those 1923 and 1927 teams, in the form of Harry Clayton, whose family have put his 1927 medal, and original framed team photo, into our safe-keeping, for which we are extremely grateful.
This, in brief, is Harry’s story.
Harry Clayton at Lowerhouse (1923-1928/9)
Harry had played cricket for several years for Altham and then Read, the highlight probably being an innings of 105 not out for Read 2nds in 1920. On 23 May 1923 the Burnley News, reporting on Read’s latest match, said “there was a notable absentee in Harry Clayton who, owing to taking up residence at Padiham, has become associated with Lowerhouse CC.”
Harry made an excellent Lowerhouse debut in ’23 making 26 not out versus Rishton. This was the highest score of a drawn, weather affected match. He did, though, have a rude awakening a week later when being cleaned up by legendary Australia and Lancashire fast bowler Ted McDonald for a duck. He wasn’t the only one to find that game against Nelson difficult. McDonald returned 7-12!
It was fairly obvious that the club had high hopes for him as he was promoted to open the batting late in the season, often with ill fated pro’ Jack Cuffe. Harry only played three games for the League Championship winning Seconds but got a fifty in one of those appearances. From double figure first team games in ’23, he was down to a mere half dozen in the wet summer of 1924, a 22 at Accrington his only notable score. He did, though, share the prize for most double figure scores for the Second Eleven with H. Ridge and seasoned veteran Ted Drabble.
His first team career seemed over after the 1925 season, when he made just 3 appearances, although a best batting average award for the Seconds was some consolation. Harry had a reversal of fortune in the General Strike year of 1926 and was a first team regular for almost the whole season. He totalled 184 runs. Highlights were 29 on June 26th in a decisive Lowerhouse home win versus Rishton and, just a week later, 31 at Accrington, although that was in a losing cause. It would be no surprise if his abiding memory of that season was scoring 25 as Lowerhouse successfully chased down the target set by Burnley in the Worsley Cup.
The 1927 Lowerhouse Lancashire League 2nd Eleven Champions
Harry is seated second from left in a snazzy blazer. This is the same photo as Harry’s framed copy.
By 1927 Harry had lost his first team place again, only making six appearances, but it left him free to play a significant part in the Seconds becoming the Junior League Champions for the third time.
On 2nd November 1927 the Express reported on a presentation evening held at Lowerhouse Canteen when the members of the team received the trophy and their medals. The report lists the eleven who received medals, and Harry was not one. The League would only provide 11 medals but allowed clubs to pay for additional ones and according to the minutes of the October meeting of the League Committee, Lowerhouse had requested one extra medal, which must have been for Harry, so perhaps he received his later. The medals cost about £3, a substantial amount and in those days were usually gold.
The end of Harry’s time at Lowerhouse
Harry’s career at the ‘House rather petered out in 1928 when he was involved in just four Second Eleven games and a return to the Ribblesdale League must have beckoned. In all he played in 43 Lancashire League games making 320 runs and holding 11 catches. Bowling obviously wasn’t his forte as there is no record of him ever bowling for the senior or junior elevens.
He was welcomed back to Read for season 1930 and seems to have carried on playing for Read until about 1938 when he was pushing 40. He may also have played some mid week works cricket. He later became a Sunday League umpire – this was a man who truly loved his cricket!
Harry’s life beyond the cricket pitch – an overview.
Harry Clayton was born in 1898 in Altham. In the 1901 census his parents William and Mary Martha (nee Hartley) had the Walton Arms and after William’s early death in 1906 Mary Martha, became the licensee, living there with her mother-in-law and her 8 children including Henry/Harry.
In 1915, aged only just 17 Harry, a weaver, enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery, spending nearly 3 years as a Gunner in France. He was wounded in action in February 1917 and awarded the Military Medal for gallantry. (Burnley Express 9 June 1917.)
When he came home on leave, his proud local community presented him with a gold watch. (Burnley Express 5 December 1917) [Cuttings sourced via British Newspaper Archive.]
He was discharged to the Reserves in March 1919, having also suffered gas poisoning in October, 1918.
In the early hours of Christmas morning 1922 Harry’s brother James Clayton awoke to find the Walton Arms on fire, and had to rescue his mother, sister and a brother, probably Harry. Mary Martha and those of her children who were still at home, including Harry, then moved to Padiham, initially Church Street, later to St. Leonard’s Street.
In 1931 he married Jan(i)e Holt, The 1939 register shows them living at 4 Albert Street, which remained their home for the rest of their lives, he was a silk and cotton weaver, she a cotton weaver. Harry died on 31st January 1979 living to be 80, despite having suffered the horrors of WW1. Jane died a year later, also 80. They did not have children but were part of an extended family. They are commemorated on a family monument in St. James’s graveyard, Altham.
Anne Cochrane and Paul Hargreaves Sept 2026