Heritage Oral History Project: Celebrating Lancashire Cricket Clubs

Five Lancashire cricket clubs have become part of an exciting pilot project that is preserving local cricket history through recorded memories and original artwork.

The Heritage Oral History Project forms part of our wider Heritage Project, made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players. The support of the Heritage Fund is helping us to uncover, record and celebrate the stories that make Lancashire's cricket communities so special.

As part of this work, we visited Roe Green Cricket Club, Lostock Cricket Club, Lowerhouse Cricket Club, Merseyside Commonwealth Cricket Club and Egerton Cricket Club to capture the memories and experiences of those who know their club histories best. Through a series of oral history interviews, we recorded conversations that explore the people, moments and traditions that have shaped each club. These recordings and transcripts will become part of the museum's collection, ensuring these valuable stories are preserved for future generations.

The stories were then shared with local artist Jamie Rennie (@jmedzynz), who created a unique canvas inspired by each club's heritage. A digital copy of every artwork has been added to the museum archive, while the original canvases are being presented back to each club as a lasting reminder of their rich history.

The pilot project has demonstrated the value of capturing the heritage of cricket clubs across Lancashire, with hopes of expanding the initiative in the future. The long-term ambition is to feature a different club's story every few months in a dedicated museum display, celebrating the people, places and memories that have shaped grassroots cricket across the county.

Alex Cropper, Heritage Manager said: "It has been amazing discovering the stories of these five clubs and exciting to see their heritage presented by Jamie's artworks. All these clubs across the county have a unique story to tell. I'm excited about the opportunity, within our Heritage Project, to celebrate their stories."

A huge thank you to everyone who shared their memories and to Jamie Rennie for bringing these stories to life through his artwork.