Ashes countdown: Your own urn

Date released: 12 July 2009

The special Ashes Urn replica and presentation case With five days to go we countdown to the the Ashes Test at Lord's with a great story each day for ten days. Today: a chance to own a very special replica urn.

The new replica urn, commissioned specially by MCC for this summer's series, is available from next week exclusively via Lord's - both at the Ground in the newly refurbished Lord's Shop and online at www.shopatlords.com.

Each element of this unique piece of memorabilia is manufactured in England:

Presentation case

The lid inlay The replica urn comes in a special presentation case. Each satin-lined presentation box is handmade by a specialist firm in Sheffield.

Inlaid to the lid of the case is the story of the urn, featuring the Sporting Times' obituary of English cricket:

"In affectionate remembrance of English Cricket which died at the Oval on 29th August 1882. Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. RIP. NB. The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia."

Replica urn

The urn itself is modelled on the original 'Darnley urn' a permanent resident in the MCC Museum.

Made (and hand decorated) in the famous Potteries region in England, the urn is an exact replica of the famous 4½ inch high original - presented to Hon. Ivo Bligh (later Lord Darnley) during the 1882/3 tour of Australia.

The urn stands on a hand-turned wooden base - made in the Midlands.

Velvet bag

The original velvet bag - on display in the MCC Museum Finally, included in the presentation case is a replica velvet bag.

Each bag is handmade and embroidered in Worcestershire. The bag matches the velvet bag presented to Bligh later during the famous tour by a Mrs. Anne Fletcher.

Bligh wrote to thank Mrs. Fletcher saying: "...the ashes shall be consigned to it forthwith and always kept there in memory of the great match."

Only 100 of this unique Ashes replica have been made for this summer's series. They will go on sale next week for £125 - you can register your interest now.