A group of Trowbridge cricketers have launched a campaign to save their historic pavilion.

Trowbridge Cricket Club’s timber design pavilion, built in 1896/97 and recognised as a site of historic interest, is in urgent need of restoration to preserve its exterior woodwork.

The club’s chairman Steve Wordley, president Des Gingell and treasurer Steve Wordley Jnr have now launched a fund-raising campaign to save the building.

In letters sent out to local businesses, chairman Steve Wordley explained although renovation to parts of the exterior woodwork was completed twenty or so years ago, the building was once again in urgent need of repair.

He said: “Income at the Trowbridge Cricket Club is raised by playing and non-paying members fees, some sponsorship and takings from the club’s bar within the clubhouse itself.

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“This enables us to keep the interior of the clubhouse in a reasonable condition and pays for heating hot water and the cost of electricity.

“We also pay for the maintenance of the playing field. This uses up all the funds raised each year leaving the club with very little savings to maintain the exterior of the building

“Over the decades the funds needed to maintain the grounds and the pavilion have been boosted by contacting local businesses to contribute a funds required to enable the club to continue.”

Trowbridge Cricket Club is a not-for-profit organisation, existing for the sole purpose of promoting and providing cricket opportunities to all ages and genders within the local are.

Mr Wordley added: “Over the last season we had over 150 members across or junior, women’s and adult section of the club.

“Majority being in the junior and are looking to increase these junior sections this coming season to around 120 plus active members both boys and girls.

“We hope to generate essential funds to enable us to carry on serving the youth of Trowbridge in a manner the deserve for the foreseeable future.”

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According to Historic England, the building is in vernacular revival style, constructed of a timber frame on a tall brick plinth with a plain tile roof.

The building is recognised for its architecturally-significant use of recurring three centred arches and arcaded frontage with sturdy vernacular details.

Historic England’s research records state that though the building is not listed, mostly due to the loss of the original interior, the building is still noteworthy for its striking visual appearance.

This style was commonly employed for cricket pavilions from the 1860s onwards and well into the 20th century and processes a striking visual appearance.

The last renovation to parts of the exterior woodwork was undertaken in 2000 under a former fundraising campaign launched by the Wiltshire Times.