NEHL - Cricket was played at Stanhope from at least the 1850s, however no such club was reported on until the 1870s. The earliest mention of the club itself is in 1873, when Stanhope faced Egglestone and were eventual victors of the match. There are a number of other mentions in this year against Frosterley for example, so the club likely played local Weardale teams only.

It is mentioned in a piece from December 1890 that the Stanhope club played on a cricket field at Unthank. At this time there was only one dry access point over the Wear - a small footbridge at Castle Park. The site noted is also verifiable as the club reformed 40 years after folding in around 2005, and commenced a presence in the same field directly adjacent to Unthank farm. Social media indicates Stanhope CC did not recommence playing after the COVID pandemic.

Ordnance Survey maps from the 1890s do not label the field, but a couple of small ancillary buildings can be seen on the west side of the ground.