Description of the attraction
The Selangor Royal Cricket Club is located next to Independence Square (Merdeka), which served as a field of play in the 19th century. Originating in the 16th century in the south of England, cricket by the end of the 18th century became one of the national sports. And the imperial expansion of Great Britain contributed to the spread of the game around the world.
And in Kuala Lumpur, the club founded in 1884 became the center of colonial life. Here they played cricket and billiards, attended touring concerts and performances, just talked like in any English club. When founded, it immediately received the name of the Royal Club of Selangor. Very soon, the nickname "spotted dog" was added to it - in honor of two Dalmatians belonging to one of the founders of the club. During his stay here, he left the dogs to guard the entrance. Apparently it was so common that dogs became a permanent element of the landscape, and the club got a middle name.
The most famous British architects of Kuala Lumpur had a hand in the design and reconstruction of this cherished place for the British. Initially, the club was located in a small wooden building. In 1890, a two-story building was built according to the design of Arthur Norman. In 1910, Arthur Hubbeck designed two additional wings on either side of the main building - in the Tudor style.
There were also sad pages in the history of the club: four floods, the Japanese occupation during the Second World War and a fire in 1970. An exact copy of the previous building, only now in a pseudo-Tudorian style, was built by 1980. A field for the game was allocated nearby. In 1984, the 100th anniversary of the club was celebrated. The status of the royal was confirmed to him, and the then Sultan of Selangor emphasized that this oldest club should always exist.
Since the founding of the club, the criterion for joining it has always been educational and social standards, but never citizenship or race. Nowadays, traditions are being followed. Membership in the club is very expensive, so it includes the richest people in the country.
