Over 200 people attended the event – cricket ‘tragics’, history buffs and many with a family connection.

A twenty20 match was played by Barwick and Ashford teams on the same field used long ago.

As the players took the pitch, horses in the next paddock galloped down to the fence to watch.

The Barwick team triumphed over Ashford 154 to 108. Both teams should be congratulated for persevering despite the warm weather, a pitch that was ‘doing a lot’  and a lot of stopping for balls lost in the creek.

The spectators followed the action closely if only to dodge the occasional ball that went flying off the field into the crowd.

 As they watched, Scone residents Valda Bowd, Dianne Chad and Betty Brooks were enjoying a chat about who to cheer for.

Betty Brooks’ son and grandson were playing with opposing teams. 

“I was hoping my grandson Tom would bowl his father Jason, out,” Mrs Brooks said.

“Where do my loyalties lie?”

“My father was an Ashford and my grandmother was a Barwick,” Mrs Chad said.

“Which team am I going to back?”

 “My great, great grandfather was the first captain of a cricket team to go to England in the 1800s,” Mrs Bowd said.

History was in the air, much like the cricket balls.

Only three families have owned the home since it was built by Joseph Docker in the first half of the 1800s.

Many of Joseph’s descendants attended including great grandson Peter Docker and another three generations of Dockers, who wandered the grounds and grand building, looking at paintings by Joseph.

Though the Dockers left Thornthwaite in 1870, ninety year old Peter was full of praise for the renovation this century of the classic sandstone home by the latest owners, the Paspaley family

Peter was deep in conversation with Don Finlay, whose family owned the house from 1870 to the mid 1990’s . 

Muswellbrook photographer Roger Skinner first had the idea to re-create the scene photographed by Docker sometime in the 1850’s. 

Anne Davies of Scone grabbed the ball and ran with it, much like the kelpie in the second innings except it delayed play.

“I thought it was a fantastic day with a wonderful community atmosphere,” Ms Davies said this week.

“It was possible thanks to the sponsors the Paspaley family, RBS Morgans, Scone Digital Imaging, Paddock to Pantry, Scone Sports Store and the Upper Hunter Shire Council.

“It has been suggested that perhaps this match will become an annual event – ‘Cricket played on the hallowed grounds of Thornthwaite - the site of the first photographic image of cricket in the world!’. 

An exhibition of Joseph Docker’s work is at Scone Historical Museum every Wednesday this month between 10am and 2pm.