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THE MARRIOTT FAMILY




Charles Hayes Marriott M.D., F.R.C.S., D.L., J.P.

Born in Kibworth Harcourt on 18th October 1832, Charles was the son of John Marriott, a surgeon, and wife Georgiana. After attending Uppingham School, Charles was articled to Mr Nash of Northampton and, after 3 years’ appenticeship proceeded to University College, London, receiving instruction from Sir William Jenner.In 1859 he became House-Surgeon at Leicester Royal Infirmary and, within a few years, became recognized as the foremost surgeon of the district. Whilst performing sterling work for the LRI he retained his General Practice in Kibworth. He was amongst the early doctors to embrace motor transport and, according to his obituary in the British Medical Journal, he would put a nurse, a portable operating table, and half a dozen bags full of surgical appliances into his tonneau, and race away to an operation or accident twenty miles away. He was elected to the General Council of the British Medical Association in 1874, and in 1876 was appointed a trustee for the Leicester Royal Infirmary’s property and stocks, the only member of the medical staff to achieve that position. In 1882 he was elected President of the Medical Society. He was Deputy Lieutenant and a Justice of the Peace for the County and City of Leicester. The Marriott ward on the first floor of the Langham Wing at the Infirmary was opened in 1923 and perpetuates his name.

Charles Marriott was captain of Kibworth Cricket Club and whilst playing in home matches his medical training was occasionally called upon. In one game, Alfred Knapp, had a dislocated thumb reset, and during another match, one of his team suffered abdominal pains that were quickly diagnosed as appendicitis. The patient, John Thomas Freer, was immediately taken to the Infirmary with Charles Marriott closely behind. On arrival at the Infirmary the cricket club captain, Charles Marriott, removed the offending organ. He is credited with the distinction of being the only person to have hit a cricket ball over the now demolished John & Barnes hosiery factory on the corner of Fleckney Road and Dover Street, gaining a well deserved and magnificent six.

Charles Marriott was the first chairman of Harcourt Parish Council and is commemorated in the village by Marriott Drive, although Harborough District Council managed to misspell the Marriott name, by omitting the final “t”, when the name-plates were erected in June 1993. This mistake was rectified soon afterwards.

Sir Charles Marriott died on 14th February 1910 and in his obituary in the British Medical Journal it was recorded 

Outside his strictly professional work he was an energetic member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; his affection for animals was always a marked trait in his character. As he became able to devote more time to non-professional subjects, he took no inconsiderable part in the political life of the district in which he lived. Returning to his family home at Kibworth Harcourt while retaining his consulting-rooms in Leicester, he became the Chairman of the Unionist Association of the Market Harborough Division of Leicestershire. He led his party through several contested elections, unsuccessful from his point of view, but, as even his political opponents allowed, not from lack of energy on his part, and his last appearance in public was when he recorded his vote at the recent election. He was a supporter of all manly sports, though unable from stress of work to indulge in them during the best days of his life He took great interest in cricket, was a Vice-President of his county club, and the writer has seen him when near or past 60 standing at a wicket in his garden withstanding not ineffectually the united assaults of two or three of his sons, no mean performers, and one a 'Varsity Blue and representative ot Gentlemen v. Players.

Taken from 'A History of Leicestershire Cricket' by E E Snow:


Harold Henry Marriott was the youngest of the five sons of Sir Charles. H H was the best cricketer of the family, born in Leicester on January 20th 1875, he was educated at Malvern where he gained his colours. Awarded his blue at Cambridge, he was in the University XI from 1895 to 1898 inclusive. Making occasional appearances in the county side in the early part of his university career, H H Marriott was at first disappointing and did not reproduce the form he was known to possess. Later, he found that form and played many valuable innings for the side, as well as ably leading them on several occasions. A really first class, stylish right-hand bat and a fine field, particularly at point, it was a great pity that owing to his professional work, he could not devote more time to first-class cricket. After 1902, he made infrequent appearances for the MCC at Lord's and for the Free Foresters; he also played at Esher where he went to live in 1905. He died on 15th November 1949

Whilst living at Kibworth, all four brothers regularly turned out for the Kibworth club and consequently that side was an extremely strong XI for a village team. H H Marriott went twice to America with combined Oxford and Cambridge touring teams, firstly in 1895, captained by Frank Mitchell, and secondly in 1897 lead by P F Warner. One of his best first-class feats was to score 146 not out for Cambridge University vs MCC at Lord's in 1896, when the University was set to make 507 in their second innings, and won by three wickets. His next highest score for Cambridge was 128 in 1895. For MCC vs Cambridge University at Lord's in 1903 he scored 144. For Leicestershire he scored two three figure innings:

103 vs Hampshire at Leicester in 1898
101 not out vs Hampshire at Leicester in 1899

H H Marriott went on to be a leading figure in the legal profession.

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm medium

Batting and fielding averages
   Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 Ct St
First-class    87        151          4        3266     146*     22.21         5      65      0

Bowling averages
Mat Balls Runs Wkts BBI Ave Econ SR 5w 10
First-class         87         372          296             8       4/60       37.00       4.77      46.5         0         0
First-class span 1894-1919


Although the other brothers did not play for the county, their part in the cricket of Leicestershire is important...........

Charles Bertrand Marriott, Uppingham and Trinity College, Oxford, Barrister, KC and for over fifteen years  captain of the Kibworth club, to whom he left £100 in his will. A very good right-hand medium pace bowler, he also played for his college XI, MCC and the Free Foresters













Cecil Edward Marriott, Uppingham and Clare college, Cambridge, was a surgeon and followed his distinguished father in a consulting practice in Leicester. He was an honorary surgeon at the LRI for thirty years as well as holding the same post for LCCC and Leicester City FC. He was a fine wicket keeper but unfortunately coincided with MacGregor at Cambridge, which robbed him of a possible blue. He played for MCC, Free Foresters, Gentlemen of Leicestershire and the Kibworth club.

John Reginald Marriott, Eton and Trinity college, Oxford, was a good bat and more than useful fast right-hand bowler. He played for Eton second XI, Eton Ramblers, Oxford Authentics and Kibworth but gave up cricket after moving to London, about 1896, to set up practice as a solicitor.

Ernest Jenner Marriott, was a very promising bat but died at the early age of 16; he had played in a few matches for Kibworth.