Jump to content

MCC Lords cricket bench - collector's item


Effra

Recommended Posts

Expressions of interest are sought for a much coveted item of cricketing memorabilia.


This is a 3 seater a Victorian era wrought iron and wood bench that came from Lords cricket ground pavilion. It is is the final stages of renovation and has all the original metal and wood components. Just think how many famous bums have sat on it over almost nine decades!


These are exceedingly rare and would make a valuable acquisition or gift for a dedicated cricketing enthusiast.


It may offered via one of the established auction houses but because if their exorbitant fees for both buyer and seller, I would prefer to sell it privately.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This size and style of bench was made specially for the MCC by Wrinch and Sons of Ipswich. The triple curve on the back rest is the key indicator as this was unique to the MCC. Documentation to confirm provenance is difficult because they were not sold off by MCC.


Instead, they had a ballot for the members only and the lucky few were allocated a bench at which point the member was "encouraged" to make a donation to the MCC Foundation charity. So no invoices or similar.


The authenticity can be verified by the unique features as many members may recall eg profile of the horizontal slats, the wrought iron work and the size. The authenticity and the fact it has not been adulterated is borne out by the fact that the bolts are the original 3/8" B.S. Whitworth and the nuts are the square type which have been unavailable for years. A non-genuine one would have 8mm metric.


Don't worry, it's the real deal. It even has the little dings and dents it collected over the years.


Attached is a detail of the wrought iron.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Sazzle30 The pics in HamHigh are of the new ones.

There are some other pics of what are supposed to be cricket benches online and they are similar to the one advertised:


https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/hansons/catalogue-id-hanson10171/lot-39dd2a97-96a2-4936-82f6-a9dd00037c39


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-Lords-Cricket-Ground-Mound-Stand-Bench-/293683389459

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For people who are interested in the different types, the Mound stand benches had one very significant feature (or lack of it).

They all had very short "legs" i.e. the wrought iron supports were much shallower because the mound, being on a slope was tiered in steps of about 8" high. Consequently, when these were disposed of by the MCC the lucky recipients had to make extensions so that they were at a suitable height for use on level ground. Some made the extensions out of wood but many decided to have a wrought iron piece attached. Some were positioned on top of concrete plinths.



An image search on Google for "MCC Lords mound bench" reveals more of them.


https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Lords+mound+stand+bench&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=z2Y7GTW23t8eFM%252CRXyXfDnUUIu6XM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kTZfHDYklRS2XG3yboIBQS5vLzg5g&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjopt_vq_DrAhXyQUEAHfZdBDEQ9QF6BAgKECQ#imgrc=z2Y7GTW23t8eFM



Pavilion benches such as mine had proper length legs.


Here is a "Mound" bench..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Latest Discussions

    • It's been the norm all my life. Born and bred in working class south London and a teenager in the 80's. I'd say the streets are slightly safer now than they were back then. I've lived in Brixton, Clapham and Peckham for over 50 year, being mugged at some point was deemed a passage of rites and inevitable. It's shit that it happens at all but wasn't aware it's become the norm recently. Sadly a lot of youth trodding the wrong path are involved with gangs that supply weed and heavier stuff so they are making money. Another thing i can assure is that the people putting their money into huge consignments of coke and heroin that destroy lives and blight our communities aren't single parents from council estates nor dropouts.   I do voluntary work with life's young strays which include both current and reforming gang members. Many are roped in from a young age and join because of fear and peer pressure. It's certainly not a choice for many. You're lazy, tabloid style stereotyping is just way too simplistic.
    • Earl have you noticed how many bus lanes have been turned into cycle lanes….take a walk across any one of London’s bridges over the Thames and see how the bus lanes have been turned into cycle lanes and buses now sit in traffic with all of the other vehicles and TFL has said that bus journey times have slowed across London, although they have blamed roadworks for the delays.   Angelina, the National Travel Survey showed that London modal share is declining for cycles due to people returning to buses and tubes (I believe bus use had increased by 59% and was heading back to pre-Covid levels) there was a thread on it in October (National Travel Survey and cycling policy in London)
    • Hi, does anyone have any cardboard moving boxes available for pick up asap?   pm if you do, any would be appreciated.     
    • Even the quality of the trolls has gone right down in recent years! In the old days, with a light touch and good timing, you could have got a good 5-6 pages out of that, maybe even a couple of forum flounces. This trolling here, though...sigh...it's just too heavy-handed and obvious. You didn't even connect it to some kind of culture war, like ULEZ or Brexit or vegans or working from home. Pitiful. 
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...