The Wynne-Thomas Library at Trent Bridge

An overview for researchers

The latest in the ACS’s planned series of auctions kicked off last weekend. It closes at 10:00 BST on Monday, October 21, and should have plenty to interest those who follow cricket in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. The auction also contains some statistical material, a small selection of narrative books by EW Swanton, and a tranche of 35 lots on women’s cricket. Register now to avoid missing out.

This note summarises my talk at the ACS meeting in London last Saturday, explaining what the Wynne-Thomas Library has, its opening arrangements, and the deposit of ACS publications and photographs.

Since the death of Peter Wynne-Thomas in 2021 we have been taking steps to maintain the library as an important resource of cricket information.

The ground floor contains a wide range of books, which are available to Nottinghamshire CCC members on loan and to other readers to peruse/browse in the library. Books include, for example, biographies, histories, tour books and collected writings.

The ground floor also has recent magazines and a quick reference section.

For most matches we have a display of books about the visiting county, and a display of information on a subject such as cricketers who played for both teams, the cricket season in 1924, cricketers who served in World War I, etc. Hence, there is always something new. We sometimes have a quiz.

The reference section is on the first floor, and includes, in particular, books by Peter Wynne-Thomas and on each county, including a substantial collection of yearbooks of first-class and national counties. There are annuals and periodicals, and a large number of pamphlets of various kinds.

Books are classified according to a system based on what is used at Lord’s.

A group of volunteers from the Arts Society have been cleaning, conserving and carrying out repairs to our collection—now completed for the lending items on the ground floor, and still in progress for the reference items.

We think of the library as the building itself; we apply the term “library” to the collection of published items. The unpublished items in our collection we categorise as “archive material.” These include, for example, some working papers of Peter Wynne-Thomas, a file on each Nottinghamshire player, scorebooks and scorecards, NCCC committee meeting minutes (some restrictions on access), a substantial collection of photographs, and material donated by the family of Eileen White, a regular player for Nottinghamshire Women for many years.

The library is open during the cricket season on County Championship days from the start of the lunch interval to the end of the tea interval. This year it opened at 10am on Test match days. We are also open on one-day match days, although for T20s and The Hundred. A librarian (a part-time staff member) and volunteers are available to help visitors.

At other times, and outside the season, we are open by arrangement. Please email library@trentbridge.co.uk, and we will agree a time that suits you.

Drawing up the catalogue is a big task; it is progressing! If you wish to enquire what we have, please email library@trentbridge.co.uk.

The support of Nottinghamshire CCC in this work is much appreciated, with a special mention for Steve Lemottee, our Heritage Manager.

The ACS has recently deposited an almost complete collection of its publications from 1973. This remains the property of the ACS, but is stored at Trent Bridge and available to ACS members for research. We will move requested material to the Wynne-Thomas Library for the duration of a member’s visit. Nottinghamshire CCC will maintain a record of the visits and of items requested.

There are a few loose ends to be tidied up as regards procedures for the ACS Library, and there will be a separate note about the available items. However, we are happy to respond to requests—to library@trentbridge.co.uk, please.

The ACS has also deposited the Des Lee collection of photographs of first-class cricketers. These are available to ACS members for reference.