Escuadrón Hurlingham

“Lost your spectacles, Sergeant?” The young gendarme’s cheeky grin met his superior’s stern gaze at the Escuadrón Hurlingham. “Perhaps they’re hiding amongst the polo mallets?” The Escuadrón Hurlingham may seem an unlikely place for such banter, but it sits within a town steeped in history. A history intertwined with a prestigious club that shares its name, the Hurlingham Club. The very ground we stand on, where the gendarmerie now maintains order, owes its existence to a sporting dream. Long before the sirens and official business, this area was desolate farmland, known as “La Estanzuela”. It was here, in 1888, that a group of British expatriates, led by John Ravenscroft, founded the Hurlingham Club, modelled after its London namesake. They envisioned a haven for British sports, a place where cricket bats would crack, polo hooves would thunder, and golf balls would soar. The club’s establishment became the catalyst for the town’s growth. The “Pacific Railway,” essential for the club’s accessibility, even opened a station named “Hurlingham” in 1890. Can you imagine the scene? Members flagging down trains, amidst the open fields, eager for a day of sport. William Lacey, a cricketer known as the “Wizard of Hurlingham,” oversaw the club’s construction, shaping not only the club but the very landscape of the future town. He laid out the cricket pitch, drained the marshlands, and planted the first trees, transforming barren land into a vibrant sporting hub. The Hurlingham Club hosted Argentina’s first polo match in 1890, a pivotal moment in the nation’s sporting history. Even rugby and football found a home here in the early days. The club became a social hub, attracting not only sporting enthusiasts but even royalty, including Prince George, Duke of Kent, and the Prince of Wales. Now, the Escuadrón Hurlingham stands as a testament to the area’s evolution. From desolate farmland to a thriving community, the echoes of sporting triumphs and social gatherings still resonate. The spirit of the Hurlingham Club lives on, intertwined with the history of the town and this very building.