The Untold Love Story Behind the Birth of the Ashes: Ivo Bligh and Florence Morphy

Discover the fascinating origin of the Ashes and the untold love story of England captain Ivo Bligh during the historic 1882–83 tour.

Ashes birth and Love Story (Image Source: Google)

The Ashes is cricket’s most storied rivalry, born from a mock obituary in 1882 mourning the ‘death’ of English cricket. But behind the famous urn lies a lesser-known tale of romance and destiny. When England captain Ivo Bligh travelled to Australia vowing to “bring back the Ashes,” he returned not only with the tiny terracotta urn but also with a bride. His quest for cricketing redemption unexpectedly became a love story—one of the most charming and overlooked chapters in the history of the Ashes.

As far as the origin of Ashes is concerned, the most acceptable story is that after the shocking defeat of English team against Australia at the Oval in August 1882, a mock obituary was printed in The Sporting Times newspaper lamenting the `death' of English cricket, ending with "NB: The body will be cremated, and the ashes taken to Australia."

When an English team visited Australia later that year, the captain, Ivo Bligh had said that he had come to bring back the Ashes. That led a young group of ladies in Sydney to present him a tiny, terracotta urn believed to contain the ashes of a burnt cricket bail, after England’s win.

This is the story of the aristocrat Ivo Bligh and how he fulfilled his ‘quest for the Ashes’. Ivo Bligh’s team lost the first Test before England bounced back with victories at Melbourne and Sydney. There is a love story behind all this, which finds no place in the history of the Ashes contents.

Bligh brought home not only the Ashes but also a bride, Florence Morphy. She was working as a governess in Melbourne and was among those who presented Bligh with the urn. Another record: Bligh is the only England captain who proposed his lady love for marriage during a Test match.

So, the birth of the Ashes revolves around a love story. Ivo Bligh was the son of a British aristocrat. After reading the mock obituary on the 'death' of English cricket, he made efforts to arrange for a tour to Australia during the winter (to satisfy his quest for bringing back the Ashes). The first batch of England cricketers, including the captain, sailed.

One of the passengers on the ship was Sir William Clarke, president of the Melbourne Cricket Club, and his second wife Janet. Bligh and Janet became friends, although she was twice his age. The terracotta urn, which is now the Ashes, was given by her (she had bought it from Italy).

At Melbourne, Clarke arranged for their stay at his mansion. The house had a new governess, very beautiful, 19-year-old Florence Morphy of Irish ancestry. She was the seventh and youngest child of a gold commissioner and police magistrate in Beechworth. Bligh fell in love with her at the first sight and tried his best so that she remained around him.

Janet very soon realised Bligh’s love for Florence. She had no objection to it but was afraid of the difference of status between both. Janet also warned him that if he is simply attracted towards ‘a pretty face’ then it’s better to forget everything. The England captain proposed to Florence on the New Year’s Eve of 1883 and the Melbourne Test was still in progress.

Ivo returned to England, seeking his parent’s nod to marry Florence Morphy. The Clarkes arranged the marriage and the two got married at St Mary’s Church in Sunbury. The love story ended with the bride going off with the dashing English sportsman. So, Florence Rose Morphy became the Hon Mrs Ivo Bligh (later the Countess of Darnley) after winning the Englishman's heart.

As per Florence, the original contents of the urn were the ashes of a veil. Janet used to wear chiffon scarves because of wind and at Melbourne a pair of them would have been used to prepare the Ashes, for an awards ceremony. The Gatehouse of Rupertswood mansion with a sign showing the origin and birthplace of the Ashes, is still there.

Now the big question is whether the urn contains bails or veil? The personal notes of Bligh family reveal that when England had won by 69 runs at Sydney, Bligh returned to Rupertswood, carrying two of the bails used in the decider Test and presented them as a memento. One of the bails, converted into a penholder, is at the Lord’s Museum and is placed next to the urn.

The MCC does not allow the analysis of the contents of the urn. In 1998, the 82-year-old daughter-in-law of Bligh claimed that the contents of the urn were not the Ashes of a bail, but the remains of her mother-in-law’s veil.

With time, Florence overshadowed her husband in the social scene. She tried her hand with reasonable success as an amateur painter. She later on became a successful romantic novelist.

Ivo became the 8th Earl of Darnley in 1900.During the First World War, the couple converted their house ‘Cobham Hall’ into a hospital for injured Australian servicemen. In 1919, their war efforts were recognised and Florence Bligh, Countess of Darnley, was made a Dame of the British Empire.

Ivo Bligh died in his sleep in April 1927 at the age of 68. On his death, the urn containing the Ashes was handed over to MCC by Florence.