New Cricket Pavilion at Kennington Oval

NEW CRICKET PAVILION AT KENNINGTON OVAL  We publish this week an illustration of exceptional interest viz. the Oval new Cricket Pavilion which bids fare to be the best of its kind in England. It has certainly a merit of architectural style and form which is seldom allied with this class of work. The authors have had considerable experience in this class of work and what we suppose at this moment the best architectural cricket pavilion in England, that at Manchester is the work of the same architect. [British Architect 14 May 1897 Page 342]

NEW PAVILION AT THE OVAL. A new pavilion has been erected at the Oval. All the old buildings have been taken down with the exception of the old dining hall which is enlarged by nearly one half of its present area, and with the new professionals dressing room and club room forms the west wing of the new pavilion. The central portion contains on the basement floor, lavatories for the members, and, under the club room and bar, storage premises. On the ground floor is the members’ club room 60 ft. by 26 ft., overlooking the cricket ground, with a bar in the rear, about 50 ft. by 18 ft., and at the west end of the club room are the members’ private and writing rooms. On the east side of the club room are the secretary’s offices. A corridor at each end of the club room traverses the building and opens on to the stand in front of the club room. The committee room and members’ dressing rooms with lavatories, bathrooms and necessary conveniences are situated on the first floor. In the east wing a ladies’ cloakroom is provided, adjoining the entrance to the side stands and on the first floor, the Press-room with telegraph room. lavatories, spare room etc. en-suite. Adjoining the Press-room is the scorers’ box, and, below the telegraph-room, a printing office. The roofs of the central portion of the pavilion and over both wings are constructed with fireproof flooring, and upon these roofs are stepped Astands.@ Externally the building is faced with red bricks relieved with Bath-stone dressings, and the roofs to the stands and over the committee and dressing rooms are covered with Broseley tiles. Electric lighting has been arranged for all the principal rooms, lavatories and corridors, supplemented by gas. The architects were Messrs T Muirhead and W Wallis Baldwin. [Builder 21 May 1898 Page 498].

Reference    British Architect 14 May 1897 Page 342 with illustration
Reference    Builder 21 May 1898 Page 498