Brief profile of Ralph Spencer by Don Ambrose

Player:

SPENCER, Ralph.
Amateur.
Born at Newburn-on-Tyne, Northumberland, 14th April 1861.
Died at Netherwitton Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, 23rd August 1926.
The son of Michael Spencer, of Lemington Hall, Scotswood-on-Tyne, Northumberland, he was educated at Harrow School, where he was a member of the cricket eleven 1878-79 and the football eleven 1878. He went up to St. Johns College, Cambridge, where he played cricket for his University 1881-2, winning his blue in 1881. He gained his B.A. in 1882 and his M.A. in 1885. His county cricket was for Northumberland, 1882-99. He was an iron and steel manufacturer. In 1905 his residence is given as Walbottle Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
At the time of the 1881 Census he was living at Lemington Hall, Newburn Hall, Northumberland, with his father Michael Spencer, aged 57, a steel manufacturer, employing 500 people, and his mother Isabella, aged 55. He is aged 19, and his brother John Cuthbert aged 21. His sister Kate is aged 18 and their cousin Isabella Mary Davison aged 19. There are five domestic servants.