Somerset Cricket Museum
{{Short description|Museum in Taunton, Somerset, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox museum
| name = Somerset Cricket Museum
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = Taunton Priory Barn (2020).JPG
| imagesize = 200
| caption =
| alt =
| map_type = Somerset
| map_caption = Shown within Somerset
| map_alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|51.0189|-3.0989|display=inline,title}}
| established = 1989
| dissolved =
| location = Taunton, Somerset, England
| type =
| collection =
| visitors =
| director =
| president =
| curator = Peter Yates
| publictransit =
| network =
| website = [http://www.somersetcricketmuseum.co.uk/ Museum website]
{{Infobox designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1_offname = Priory Barn
| designation1 = Grade II*
| designation1_date = 4 July 1975
| designation1_number = {{Listed building England|1344774}}
}}
}}
Somerset Cricket Museum in Taunton, Somerset, England, is a small museum housing exhibits on the history of cricket with a particular emphasis on the history of Somerset County Cricket Club.
Building
The building, which is within the confines of the County Ground, is the Old Priory Barn, a Grade II* listed building. It is the only surviving building of the Augustinian Taunton Priory which was founded about 1115,{{cite book | author = Thomas Hugo | year = 1860 | title = The History of Taunton Priory in the County of Somerset. | url = https://archive.org/details/historytauntonp00hugogoog | publisher = J. R. Smith, London | isbn=978-1437375350 }} although there is some evidence that its early use was not as a barn but as a guesthouse or quarters for a Priory
official.{{cite web|last=Gathercole|first=Clare|title=Taunton|url=http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/downloads/EUS_TauntonText.pdf|work=Extensive urban archeological surveys|publisher=Somerset County Council|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717063217/http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/downloads/EUS_TauntonText.pdf|archivedate=2011-07-17}} The local stone rubble has been repaired with red brick and has a tie-beam roof covered with tiles. The door and window openings are made of Bishops Lydeard stone.{{cite web|title=Priory Barn|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1344774|accessdate=2010-05-27|work=historicengland.org.uk|publisher=English Heritage}} The exact dates of the building are disputed, but is argued to be from the late 15th or early 16th century,{{cite web|title=Taunton Priory|url=https://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=190832|work=Pastscape|publisher=Historic England|accessdate=24 May 2018}} and replacing an earlier 13th or 14th-century building on the site, but incorporating some of the earlier building.{{cite web |url=http://www.contextone.co.uk/online_reports/downloads/EVA_PAT_report.pdf |title=Former County Garage, Priory Avenue, Taunton, Somerset. An Archaeological Watching Brief and Field Evaluation |accessdate=2009-01-17 |work= |publisher=Context One Archaeological Services |year=2004 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070820141357/http://www.contextone.co.uk/online_reports/downloads/EVA_PAT_report.pdf |archivedate = 2007-08-20}} It was a Scheduled Ancient Monument until 1999 when it was descheduled.{{cite web|title=Priory Barn, Priory Avenue, Taunton|url=http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/44205|work=Somerset Historic Environment Record|publisher=Somerset County Council|accessdate=28 May 2010}} The building was once used as a chapel by Frenchmen, possibly prisoners during the French Revolutionary Wars or Napoleonic Wars.
History
The Old Priory Barn was purchased by the Somerset CCC Supporters Club when it became available in 1979, as the cricket club was unable to afford it at the time. Over the next ten years the building was restored, and in April 1989 the museum was officially opened to the public.{{cite web|title=SOMERSET CRICKET MUSEUM CELEBRATES 21 YEARS! |url=http://www.somersetcountycc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Museum/0,,11333,00.html |date=26 April 2010 |publisher=Somerset County Cricket Club |accessdate=2010-05-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724105217/http://www.somersetcountycc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Museum/0%2C%2C11333%2C00.html |archivedate=24 July 2010 }}
Collection
The exhibits and displays in the museum primarily cover the cricket club's history, including Test match players such as Ian Botham and Marcus Trescothick. It also has a section devoted to the England women's cricket team, as the County Ground is their headquarters.{{cite news|title=The cricket museum|url=http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/Somerset-Places-cricket-museum/article-1211002-detail/article.html|accessdate=2010-05-27|newspaper=Somerset Guardian|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130114020646/http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/Somerset-Places-cricket-museum/article-1211002-detail/article.html|archivedate=2013-01-14}} The museum also hosts a collection of I Zingari memorabilia, a club with which current chairman Charles Clive Ponsonby-Fane has strong family links.{{cite web|url=http://somersetcricketmuseum.co.uk/zingari.html |title=I Zingari |publisher=Somerset Cricket Museum |accessdate=2010-05-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714185723/http://www.somersetcricketmuseum.co.uk/zingari.html |archivedate=2009-07-14 }}