The Museum

Introduction

A visit to the Warwickshire County Cricket Club Museum at Edgbaston is to take a unique journey through the last 114 years of first - class cricket played at this famous ground.

Photographs, memorabilia, artifacts and articles are displayed in a way that captures the interest of the visitor and provides scope for many repeat visits during a season.

The ethos of the Museum is the emphasis on retaining its unique items and nostalgic look whilst at the same time providing regular displays and features to captivate the many thousands of visitors each year.

From the original first-class side to represent Warwickshire in 1894, the first Championship of 1911, the 1951, 1972, 1994 and 1995 Championship winning teams to the very latest triumph in 2004 of the Frizzell County Championship, all are there.

Focus has been centred on making the Museum a timeless tribute to Edgbaston memories, with both past and present Warwickshire and England personalities and achievements being there in abundance.

The Museum is located in the pavilion at the ground and is open on match days throughout the season, from 9.00 a.m. until 6.30 p.m.

During the out of season months, September to April, visits can be made on usually on Monday or Tuesday between 10.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. but it is always best to check before setting out that the Museum will be open

Entrance is free

Tours can be organised to the museum at other times for larger parties. It is live evidence of the fantastic times in both Warwickshire and Edgbaston Cricket's past and present - well worth a visit.

Please call 0870 062 1902 for more information or contact the Museum Curator, Phil Britt.

The Museum is always looking for new Warwickshire related memorabilia so please let Phil know if you have something you would like to donate, loan or sell.

Highlights of the Museum

Like all sides, Warwickshire CCC has experienced highs and lows over the years, but we would like to think that the former far outweighs the latter. The Museum captures the excitement of Championship wins and One-day Final heroics.

The successful presentation on the life and work of well loved and remembered Midlands sports cartoonist Norman Edwards, with particular focus on his life and association with Warwickshire C.C.C. for over 50 years continues to be a popular and well admired display.

Septimus Kinneir, one of Warwickshire's earliest Test players and a member of the 1911 Championship winning side is remembered, while due to the immense popularity and memory jogging features, the display taking a look back in detail at the 1951 Championship winning side and the individuals of that squad is retained and a cabinet remembering the life of the skipper of the side, Tom Dollery. complements the overall display.

Artifacts, articles and memorabilia from players of that time, Eric Hollies, Tom Pritchard, and Jimmy Ord will recall fond memories for many of our visitors.

We also include remember Len Bates, George Payne, MJK Smith, Dennis Amiss, Sydney and Reg Santall, George Austin and the years of service they gave to Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

The Museum also maintains a day-by-day record of the current season, with match reports, signed team sheets, photographs and all related documents of every day's play, home and away. This feature was started 6 years ago and those books plus the new ones for 2008 will be available for visitors to read throughout the season.

International

International cricket is a vital part of the sporting calendar and Edgbaston has witnessed it at its best.

In 2008 we welcome New Zealand and South Africa to the ground to play One Day International and Test cricket against England and as is custom, the Museum has prepared a welcome showcase for them and their supporters on what will be a sell-out day.

After years of exhilarating International cricket at the ground, where better to watch, than at Edgbaston, the home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

Memorabilia

For 2008 the Museum is privileged to again display the career memorabilia of former West Indies and Warwickshire great, Alvin Kallicharran.

This major collection represents a lifetime of achievement at the very pinnacle of the cricketing world.

The George Paine display represents a lifetime dedicated to playing and coaching cricket and contains many rare and special items of personal memorabilia from this well remembered Warwickshire and England stalwart.

Items have been donated such as one of the stumps that used when Brian Lara made his 501. Also there is a staggering collection of ties and caps worn by players from teams from all over the globe.

We must not forget a detailed statue of Eric Hollies, who took 2323 wickets for the Club. This acts as a superb centrepiece to the room and draws attention to the man who most famously got the wicket of Sir Donald Bradman in his last Test Match.