The great and the good have all visited the Long Room

The project includes redecoration of the Long Room, construction of a new roof terrace and bringing the two turrets back into use.

Work started on Monday and is scheduled to be completed in time for the start of 2005 cricket season.

The building has never been closed for any such length of time in 114 years, and even remained open during World War One and Two.

The pavilion, which has Grade II listed status, was built in 1889-90 and is the focal point of a ground acknowledged around the world as the home of cricket.

The project will take MCC expenditure on ground improvement projects, since its bicentenary, well past the �50m mark.