Court Register

[Photo: Crabbet Park court, English Heritage Photo © National Portrait Gallery]

The Court Register is an attempt to create a definitive online list (with links to individual entries) for each court ever mentioned, documented, built or unbuilt with as much site (location and date), construction (builder, materials and dimensions) and historical information (patron, players and events).  These entries will be cross-referenced with both the Bibliographic and Visual Databases.

The growing list below is a work in progress and when the database infrastructure is ready will become the foundation for the court register.  We would love to hear from you if you have a court you would like to add or to provide a more in depth history for the eventual entry for the database.  Email: frederikaadam@hotmail.com

Courts are listed by country and if there are multiple entries per country, either chronologically or by area. The specific name used in documents (i.e. Kaetsbaan) for the court is in italics.  Courts underlined are former courts with some substantial remains or are dormant and for one reason or another are not in use and we hope one day could be restored for play.  Courts in bold are currently in use (hurrah!)  One of the most important aims of the RTS is to revive interest in the sport in countries which have courts that could be revived and to encourage countries to embrace the sport and build new courts.  Please get in touch with Frederika if you have a project in mind. Thank you!

Australia

The information on early courts in Australia comes from Michael P. Garnett (MPG)’s Tennis Anecdotes and Sketches (2010).  

1866 Ballarat, Main Street (J. Leonard); “An open court attached to Royal Mail Hotel.  Demolished by gale and rebuilt 1867.” (MPG (2010), p. 151)

1868 Loughrea Hotel, Elgin Street, Carlton (Melbourne); “Hotel still stands but court has disapeared” (MPG (2010), p. 151)

c. 1870 Ball Court Hotel, Sunbury (J. Cahill); “Hotel still stands but no sign of court” (MPG (2010), p. 151)

1870 Crown Ball Court, Geelong; “Where ‘a match of ball will shortly be arranged’.  Rear of Crown Hotel” (MPG (2010), p. 151)

1872 Ballarat Main Road (J. Noonan), “Ball court attached to Limerick & Clare Castle Hotel” (MPG (2010), p. 152)

1874/75 Hobart Tennis Club, Davey Street, Tasmania (S. Smith Travers); Dimensions: 108’6″ x 38’7″ x 26′ (MPG (2010), p. 152); Thomas Stone, first professional. Head Professional Brett McFarlane      LINK TO HOBART TENNIS CLUB WEBSITE

c. 1875 Bendigo, Bridge Street (P. McGrath); “Open brick ball court at rear of Hibernia Hotel” (MPG (2010), p. 152)

1882-1974 Exhibition Street, Royal Melbourne Tennis Club (Lord Normanby; Dimensions: 110′ x 38’6″ x 31′ (MPG (2010), p. 152); first professional was Thomas Stone); Queen Victoria granted the “Royal” in Royal Melbourne. Women allowed to join (for squash) in 1932.

1974 Sherwood Street and then Royal Melbourne Tennis Club, Richmond; 2 Courts;  Dimensions: Both Courts: 110′ x 38’6″ x 32′ (MPG (2010), p. 152).    LINK TO RMTC WEBSITE

1983/84 Ballarat (John Gilbert); Dimensions: 110′ x 38′ x 32′ (MPG (2010), p. 152); Brett McFarlane; Andrew Fowler, head professional.      LINK TO BALLARAT TENNIS CLUB WEBSITE

1997-2005 Macquarie University, Sydney (R. Lawton); Dimensions: 110′ x 38′ x 32′ (MPG (2010), p. 152); Wayne Kinniburgh, professional (Aberdare (2001), p. 345)

1999-2007; Since 2007- open on request Cope-Williams, Romsey, Victoria; (Gordon Cope-Williams); Dimensions: 112′ x 38′ x 32′; “Glass grille wall and timber tabour” (MPG (2010), p. 152) COPE-WILLIAMS WEBSITE.    

 The Cope-Williams property is currently (Summer 2020) for sale! LINK 

Future Courts:

Sydney Project – current plan is to build a new facility with two courts – for more information contact Dick Friend    LINK TO THE SYDNEY REAL TENNIS WEBSITE

The Melbourne Cricket Club has a Real Tennis Club. Hopefully one day they will build a court.  LINK TO THE MCC REAL TENNIS CLUB WEBSITE

Austria (See also Czech Republic, Germany & Holy Roman Empire and Switzerland)

Tennis may have been played after the demise of the Holy Roman Empire (1806) however the majority of the courts listed below were built during the HRE. A visual account of tennis courts in the Germanic States was made by the Merian family.  For a wealth of information on tennis in the Germanic States see Gillmeister (1997). 

Castle Ambras, Innsbruck – Ballenhause, included in engraving by Matthaus Merian; residence of Archduke Ferdinand II of Tyrol, nephew of Charles V.  Morgan notes that this court appears to be a similar design to the Rachetta, Palazzo Te, Mantua. (Morgan, p. 226)

roofed Ballhauss, Busterow Castle; Mecklenburg family

roofed structure, Bremerforde Castle

completed c. 1620 Salzburg (Paris Count Lodron, designed by Santino Saleri)

Vienna

1525-26 Ballhausplatz of the castle of Emperor Ferdinand I; Re-built 1526, Michaelerplatz; third court built 1536-52; other courts mentioned in this area: Ballgasse (narrow street) and ‘Ballhaus Auf der Dackhen’ (roofed tennis court)

Belgium (see The Netherlands/Flanders below)

Czech Republic

Prague 

The “Micovna”, Summer Palace, Royal gardens, Prague Castle – designed by Boniface Wolmut for Archduke Ferdinand (1535 court completed 1568/9)

Court in city centre, Prague

France

Given the large number of courts, the French Courts are listed by Department and town in alphabetical order.  Paris is listed by Arrondissement.

Alsace

Aquitaine

Basque Country

1990 Trinquet d’Arcangues

1512 Trinquet dedans, La Bastide Clairence  

Trinquet, Balaki d’Itxassou

1874 Jeu de Paume, Pau, Parc Beaumont (today, modified trinquet) 

16c trinquet dedans, Trinquet St Andre, Bayonne 

St Jean de Luze

Trinquet St Martin, Biarritz

Bordeaux

In February 2020 the new Bordeaux (Merignac) Court opened! It replaced the former Bordeaux-Merignac Rue Verdun Club (1978-2013) demolished in June 2013.  LINK BORDEAUX CLUB WEBSITE 

1522-53 8 courts were built in the Troupeyte quarter (centre) of Bordeaux.  See also the 1755 Map by Lattre of Bordeaux with the following 17 courts [Source: de Luze (1933)]:

c.1460, House of John Talbot, Count of Shrewsbury, Bordeaux (1)

1522-1624 Jeu de la Salamandre, Bordeaux (2)

1527-? Jeu de l’Ombriere, Bordeaux (3)

1530-1671 Jeu de Dibarrola, Bordeaux (4)

1538-1652 Jeu de Jean de la Fontaine, Bordeaux (5)

1543-1640 Jeu du Cheval Blanc, Bordeaux (6)

1553-? Rue des Combes, Bordeaux (7)

1553-1731Rue de la Coquille, Bordeaux (8)

1553-1684 Jeu de Tingon, Bordeaux (9)

1567-1694 Rue des Ayres, Bordeaux (10)

1576-? Rue de la Cadene, Bordeaux (11)

1595-1667 Rue du Pas-Saint-Georges, Bordeaux (12)

1607-1615 Rue de Gaufreteau, Bordeaux (13)

1616-? Rue des Trois-Conils, Bordeaux (14)

1617-1720 Jeu de Barbarin, Bordeaux (15)

1623-? Rue Castillon, Bordeaux (16)

1669-? Rue Tour-de-Gassies, Bordeaux (17)

Bordeaux-Merignac (1978-2013)

Auvergne

Bretagne/Brittany

Bourgogne/Burgundy

Chateau de Lournand 

Centre

Champagne-Ardenne

Franche-Comté

Île-de-France

Fontainebleau

LINK TO FONTAINEBLEAU CLUB on FFJdP WEBSITE

Château Fontainebleau Website

c. 1545 “Grand Ferrare” Palace with a Staccato Maggiore court built by Sebastiano Serlio for Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este. The court measured 38 x 11 metres. (source:

Paris

It is noted by three different sources in the 16c that Paris had at least 250 and possibly 1,800+ tennis courts and therefore this list (essentially taken from de Luze (1933)) is in order of arrondissement rather than by year. 

Louvre

Jeu de Charles V, next to Porte Saint Honore

1530 “Petit”  Jeu de Francois Ier, rue d’Autriche, next to the Seine; later, Cour des Marbres

Jeu de Henri II, rue d’Autriche

Ier Arrondissement

c. 1363 Jeu de la rue Froidmantel (Froid Manteau/Fromenteau), west of the Louvre; played on by Charles V

Jeu de l’Image Saint Nicolas, rue du Champ Fleuri (Champfleury); absorbed later by the rue de Rivoli

Jeu de la rue Grenelle Saint Honore (rue Jean Jacques Rousseau); played by Louis XIII and Masson

Jeu de la Hyacinthe; paumier Gossaume

Jeu de la rue Montorgueil; ancient and mentioned in 1807

Jeu de la rue du Pelican; mentioned 1437

2 Courts: rue de la Poterie (“rue des Deux Jeux de Paume”); Sauval court mentioned in 1471

Jeu de la Liberte, rue Saint Honore (built on land given by Daunois Perier in 1453); also referred to as the Jeu de Cleol in 1539 (name of pro?); mentioned again in 1631

Jeu de la Sphere, “close to the Louvre”; played by Henri IV

Jeu de la rue Troussevache (today, rue de La Reynie); mentioned 1577

Jeu de la rue Verderet (today, rue Etienne Marcel); mentioned by Rousseau

Jeux des Tuileries; 1862 First Court; 1882 Second Court (today, the Jeu de Paume Gallery)

2nd Arrondissement

Jeu de la Salamandre, rue des Deux Portes, in the parish of St Sauveur

Jeu de Calais, rue des Vieux Augustins (today, rue d’Argent)

3rd Arrondissement

Jeu de la Lune (jeu quarre), rue Beaubourg; conserved in 17c and mentioned in 1760

Jeu de Bertault; mentioned 1577 and 1604

Jeu du Moustardier, rue Bourg l’Abbe

Le Petit Temple, rue Grenier St Lazaire; Margot played there in 1427; Theatre Mondory

Jeu de La Fontaine, rue Michel le Comte, no 2; 1480 property of Jean d’Escouys; demolished in 1864 after many years out of use

Jeu de la rue d’Orleans; near convent of Capucins

Jeu de la Perle, rue de la Perle “la perle des tripots, comme etant le plus entendu de Paris”

Jeu du comte d’Artois, rue de Vendome (rue Beranger)

Le Petit Louvre or, Tripot du Marais du Temple (known in the 17c as the Jeu du Marais); a famous theatre too

4th Arrondissement

Jeu de la Croix Noire, a la Tour Barbeau (quai des Celestins, no 32); mentioned 1701, Bunelle as the paumier; and in 1645 as an illustrious theatre

Jeu de la rue des Exouffes; existed in 1675; Sorin as paumier in 1700 and run by Masson pere in 1760

2 Courts, rue Geoffroy l’Asnier; used in 1640 (Jaillot, Recherches de Paris (1775))

Jeu de la rue des Lions Saint Paul or, de Beautreillis (on the corner of Beautreillis, no 1 and rue St Paul no 4 (Lambeau)); demolished in 1552 (Dufaure)

Jeu de la rue des Mauvais Garcons

Jeu du Tambourin, rue de Paradis or rue de Paradis au Marais; built 1545-?

Jeu de la rue Saint Louis en l’Ile, no 54 (today, the Hotel Jeu de Paume); constructed in 1634/37 (after the bridge was built 1614-30) by Poulletier for 9,700 livres; Pasquier Chobet/Chaubert was the first professional; it was modified over the years and may have been used finally as a jeu quarre; Morgan remarks that this court was modeled exactly on the Tripot de la Perle, Fosses St Marcel; Underneath the court is an extensive cellar area designed for players to socialize and bathe (still there today); 1747 the court was sold for development; 1986 bought by Guy Prache and converted it into the Hotel Jeu de Paume.

Jeu de la Conversion, rue St Paul, on the corner of rue Newuve St Paul (rue Charles V)

1839-61 Jeu de passage Sandrie, demolished to make way for the Opera

Jeu de la rue de la Tacherie (L. Lambeau)

5th Arrondissement

Jeu du Grand Braque Latin, Place l’Estrapade no, 1;  famous 16c court ; it became later the Jeu du Cheval Verd and last the Jeu de l’Ecce Homo. Rabelais uses the court as the location for Garantua’s tennis match with friends and it is also mentioned by both Rabelais and Vives.

Jeu de Montplaisir, rue de l’Estrapade, no 3; was still in existence in 1780 (Lambeau)

3 courts, rue d’Enfer (South Bld St Michel)

Jeu “without a designation” mentioned 1593 on the corner of rue des Francs Bourgeois

Jeu des Navets; mentioned 1540

Jeu de Grenelle, rue La Harpe (North Blvd St Michel); mentioned 1524

Jeu de Saint Jean de Latran, rue Saint Jacques; mentioned 1518

Jeu du Chaudron, rue du Faubourg St Jacques

Jeu de la rue Pot de Fer (today, rue de Madame); mentioned 1569

Jeux du Clos Ste Genevieve; mentioned 1530 (Crozon)

Tripot des Onze Mille Diables, and later, Jeu de la Sphere, rue Neuve Ste Genevieve/rue Tournefort

Jeu du quai de la Tournelle; mentioned 1614

Jeu de la rue Saint Victoir; 1787 (Lambeau)

Jeu du Cygne de la Croix 1571

Jeu de l’Image Ste Genevieve, Luxembourg

Jeu de Montgaillard, Luxembourg

Jeu du Pavillon; 1592 Luxembourg

6th Arrondissement

7th Arrondissement

8th Arrondissement

9th Arrondissement

10th Arrondissement

11th Arrondissement

12th Arrondissement

13th Arrondissement

14th Arrondissement

15th Arrondissement

16th Arrondissement

1908- Rue Lauriston, 74 Ter; originally 2 courts, the second court was converted into 4 squash courts in 1927 (the first squash courts in Paris) 

17th Arrondissement

Royal Palace, Saint Germain-en-Laye – National Archeological Museum

Versailles

Languedoc-Roussillon

Limousin

Basse-Normandie/Lower Normandy

Midi-Pyrénées

Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Pays de la Loire

Chateau d’Amboise

Castle, Saumur; Drawing of 5 players playing roof ball (without a court)

Picardie/Picardy

18c Chantilly

[Photo: Auberge du Jeu de Paume (Relais & Chateau) website] 

Poitou-Charentes

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

Aix-en-Provence

city centre

Rhône-Alpes

Lyon

In The Tennis Courts of Lyon (2012), Richard Travers has found evidence of at least 18 courts in Lyon all mentioned by the early 16th century.  The following information on Lyon tennis courts can be found in his book pp. 7-9. Travers has also found the names of professionals who worked at these courts in Lyon – the list includes 14 names, pp. 10-11. 

1st Arrondissement (Croix-Rousse and the northern part of the Presqui’ile, down to Rue Neuve)

1) tennis court, Rue de la Laterne; (Pierre Dallieres); tennis court behind house

2nd Arrondissement (The rest of the Presqui’ile, from Rue Neuve to the Confluence)

16c Ainay [Chapter 2, Travers (2012), pp. 17-28]

2) jeu de paume, Rue Port-Clarlet (now Rue Ferrandiere); (Jean Regnaud)

3) ‘covered jeu de paume‘, Rue Port-Charlet (now Rue Ferrandiere); (Jean de Sales)

4) tennis court, Rue Port-Charlet (now Rue Ferrandiere); (Guillaume Burgat); tennis court behind house

5) jeu de paume behind house, Rue de Puits-Pelu (now Rue Palais-Grillet); (Catherine Arnaud and Jean Chanier)

6) jeu de paume, Rue du Temple (now Rue de la Monnaie); (Claude Cousin, “Loyon”, paumier)

7) jeu de paume, Rue Ecorcheboeuf (now Rue Port-du-Temple); (Pierre Augustin)

8) “large covered jeu de paume“, Rue Ecorcheboeuf; (Pernet Boton, paumier)

9) “jeu de paume and hot baths”, Rue de la Rotisserie (now Rue Thomassin); (Jean Clepoint “la Picarde”); court managed by Jean de Paris, paumier

10) jeu de paume, Rue de la Rotisserie (now Rue Thomassin); Chapard family

5th Arrondissement (Vieux-Lyon, west of the Soane (Rue Tramassac was also known as Rue de la Monnaie, and the southern end became known as Rue du Boeuf)

11) 15c tennis court, Rue Tramassac; (Antoine de Molesmes, harbourmaster)

12) 1525-? jeu de paume, Rue Tramassac (near Rue Monnoye); Nicolas Bault’s widow built lodgings and jeu de paume

13) ‘Bras-de-Fer’ tennis court, Rue Tramassac (15 Rue du Boeuf); (Louis Thorel, doctor)

14) tennis court, Rue Tramassac; (Etienne Montucla)

15) tennis court, Rue Tramassac; (Anthoine Tixier, notary)

16) tennis court, Rue Tramassac (?); (Francois Solasson and Jacques Cousin (furrier), owners)

17) jeu de paume, Rue Ganivet (now Rue Trois-Maries); (de Sennecy have a house called Quatre-Vents)

18) jeu de paume, Rue de la Bombarde; (Antoine Cusin)

Department Drôme, Rhône-Alpes

1566 Suze-la-Rousse, Rhône Valley

Haute-Normandie/Upper Normandy

Germany (The Holy Roman Empire) See also Austria, France and Switzerland 

Tennis in Germany, or in the Holy Roman Empire (962-1806), was a favourite of the Hapsburgs and played most enthusiastically in the Universities. The following list is extracted from Heiner Gillmeister’s Tennis: A Cultural History (1997). 

1548 Augsburg ‘at St Anna’s Church close to the Library’

later 16c Basle

16c Buckeburg

later 16c Butzbach

later 16c Cassel (Kassel)

Coburg – Print of exterior (1632) shows weathervanes in shape of players

1595 Residentz, Colln der Spree, Cologne (Colln) – open unroofed structure; similar in location on site to Falkland Palace (Morgan, p. 228)

later 16c Darmstadt

early 16c Frankfurt

later 16c Giessen

early 16c Halle

1592 Heidelberg; Heidelberg Castle; third court

1593/54 Ingolstadt

16c Jever

Kassel (see Cassel)

16c Lubeck

later 16c Marburg

later 16c Munich

early 16c Nuremberg

16c Oldenburg

later 16c Strasbourg (2 courts)

later 16c Tubingen

later 16c Ziegenhain

Ireland 

1885 Dublin (Lord Iveagh)

1922 Lambay Island, Ireland; an existing castle was transformed into a country house by Lutyens for Cecil Baring, 3rd Baron Revelstoke by  unusual lay out with a penthouse along the main wall designed to prevent the main wall force.  There are plans to restore the house and court.  Please contact Jamie Turner c/o the T&RA for more information.  Lambay Island information

Italy

The rules of Tennis (Trattato del giuoco della palla/Treatise of the ball game) and its related games were first published in Venice by Antonio Scaino (based at the d’Este court in Ferrara) in 1555.  The definitive history of tennis in Italy during the Renaissance is Cees de Bondt’s Royal Tennis in Renaissance Italy (2006);  de Bondt has found evidence of around 60 courts in Italy (listed below) and he continues to comb the archives in Italy to discover ever more information on what is currently a lost sport in a country that had some of the most important centres and patrons of the sport during the Renaissance.  Italy has produced one world champion of tennis to date: Marchisio (1816-19).  The following list below (listed by geographical Region) is derived from de Bondt’s Tennis Courts at Italian Palaces and Teatri della Pallacorda e Rachetta, Appendix III, p. 221. For supplementary information, see also Morgan (1995) pp. 225-26.

Campania

Caserta

c. 1780 Palazzo Reale

Emilia-Romagna

Copparo

Castello Estense

Ferrara

Belriguardo

Belfiore

3 Courts, Castello Estense

Palazzo Ducale

saloon, Palazzo dei Diamante/Diamond Palace, Ferrara; (Este family (Dukes of Ferrara))

Modena

Palazzo San Pietro/Palazzo Ducale, Modena; (Este family, Dukes of Ferrara)

Parma

Palazzo della Pilotta; (Farnese family)

Sassuolo

Palazzo Ducale (Este family)

Lazio 

Rome

Palazzo della Cancelleria

quarre court, Palazzo Farnese, Caprarola (50k outside Rome); (Cardinal Alessandro Farnese II (1520-89); Dimensions: 27 x 9.5 metres (Travers (2012), p. 25)

Palazzo Barberini

Palazzo Borghese

Palazzo Capodiferro (today, Spada)

Palazzo di Firenze

Palazzo Colonna

Villa Medici

Palazzo Colonna

Palazzo Doria Pamphili

Villa del Priorato sull’ Aventino

Villa d’Este on the Quirinal

Outskirts of Rome:

Caprarola

Villa Farnese

Marino

Casino Colonna

Palestrina

Palazzo Colonna-Barberini

Vignanello

Castello Ruspoli

Frascati

Villa Mondragone

Sicily

Palermo

Palazzo dei Normanni

Toscana/Tuscany

Firenze/Florence Pallatoio 

3 courts, Palazzo Pitti, Florence; Medici family (Dukes of Tuscany)

The Medici Villas – Outskirts of Florence

Villa Medici, Poggio a Caiano (West of Florence)

Pratolino

Villa Castello

Lappeggia and Villa Rucellai

Prato

Palazzo Vivarelli-Colonna (today, the Seminario Vescovile)

Segremigno in Monte (Lucca)

Villa Mansi (Benedetti family (16c) and then Mansi family (17c))

Settignano

Villa Gamberaia; (Zanobi Lapi family (17c) and Capponi family (18c)

Volterra

Palazzo Maffei (today, the Etruscan Guarnacci Museum)

Veneto

Battaglia al Terme

Vicenza

La Rotunda, Vicenza

Venezia/Venice

15c Palazzo Pesaro Papafava, Calle de la Rachetta, Cannaregio (today, houses the History of Art Venice Programme, Warwick University)

Calle dei Botteri, near the Rialto, Venice;

Birri and San Felice Courts, Venice; Giovanni de Grevembroch (Jan van Grevembroch) Nobile alla Rachetta (1731); The San Felice court street is today called Calle della Rachetta

2 Courts, Fondamente Nuove; the court run by Pasqual Cicogna was famous with the nobility of Europe when in Venice – for tennis and gambling. (Morgan, p. 225)

Further resources:

Painting by Gabriel Bella (1730-99) of a game of doubles played in Venice (Stampili)]

Keywords for ball games in Italy, see also: Pallone (tennis/ball game with a big ball), sferisterii (pallone court), Tamburello, sferisterio, palla (ball), pilotta (small ball), palla a maglio (ball and mallet)

Netherlands/Flanders (including Belgium, France and the Netherlands)

In Bruges, the Dukes of Burgundy were the most significant patrons of paume in the 15c: Phillipe le Bon (d. 1467).  Flanders also produced in the 15c one of the greatest female players: Margot of Hainault.  Court Sources: Julien Desee, Les Jeu Sportifs de Pelote-Paume en Belgique (1967), Cees de Bondt (1990) and Roger Morgan (1995).

17c Kaatsbaansteeg, Amsterdam

17c Kaatsballengang, Amsterdam

1491 Nationalestraat, Antwerp

1492 Lombardenvest, Antwerp

1499 Koepoortsraat, Antwerp

Tanner’s Tower, Antwerp (built for the Italians based in Antwerp)

St Michael’s Church, Antwerp (built for the French courtiers of the Duke of Anjou based in Antwerp)

Kaetsbaan (Tennis Court) Street, Den Briel

15c 2 courts, Prinsenhof Bruges 1) ‘a wooden hall in the courtyard of the palace’ and 2) a smaller court with penthouses on three sides (Morgan p. 210). (Print; Map by Marc Gheeraerts (1562); Morgan p. 209 and Map Flandria Illustrata (1641)) Philippe le Bon

Currier’s Square, Bruges (Map by Marc Gheeraerts (1562); Morgan p. 209)

longue paume, Abbaye des Dunes, Cozyde; destroyed 1578 (Painting by Pourbus (1580) in Musee Brangugn, Bruges)

Ducal Palace, Brussels; Print by J. Van de Velde (1645), Royal Albert Ier Library, Brussels.

Delft

c. 14c The Hague (Den Haag), first mention of tennis in The Hague by Duke Albert of Bavaria, Count of Holland

14c Binnenhof (courtyard of former castle of the Counts of Holland, today is the Dutch parliament), The Hague; restored 1561(from wood to masonry)

Kaatsbaan s’Heerenberg

University of Leiden – Print (1612) by Crispijn de Passe “The rackets, while they make the little ball fly to and fro, train the young man’s body and spirit, for the ball restores energy to the body of poor health, whereas the brains overburdened with assiduous studies are paralysed.”

Oudenberg

Caetsbrugh or ‘Kaatsbridge’, De Rijp

Rotterdam

University of Utrecht

South America

“Jugar a la Chaza” played with a battoir, similar to longue paume introduced during the colonial period. (Morgan p. 224); see also: Llargues (also played in Alicante and Canary Isles) and Pelota Mixteca, Mexico

Spain

Many towns in Spain had trinquet courts which were eventually absorbed into town architecture during the 18th century. In Llargues: “estar la pelota en el tejado” (“to be a ball on a roof” i.e. to be in an undecided state).  Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, was an enthusiastic player playing at Bridewell with Henry VIII and Federico Gonzaga in Mantua. Charles’ brother, Archduke Ferdinand, built courts in Vienna and Prague. (Morgan, p. 224)

Juego del Pelota Palace of Buen Retiro, Madrid; Two paintings show the court with penthouses on three sides with galleries: 1) by Pedro Teziera (1656) and by Jusepe Leonardo (1656). The court is called jeu de paume in a French plan by Rene Carlier.

The Prado (?), Madrid

El Escorial

c. 1285 Valencia; There were 10 courts in Valencia during the 15c and the scholar Juan Vives (b. 1492), gives descriptions of tennis (and Galotxa) in Spain and Flanders.

Switzerland

First half 16c Geneva, near Longemalle (left back of the river)

19c 25 rue de Chevelu, St-Gervais, Geneva (demolished c. 1843)

“Au Coq d’Inde”, Geneva

Plonjeon (Parc des Eaux-Vivres)

16c near Porte Saint-Maurice, Neuchatel (Valangin and Jean Sagnard) restored in the 17c for Soissons to play while in Neuchatel

UK (England and Scotland) 

Pre-18 century

15c Blackfriar’s monastery, Perth, Scotland

c. 1498 “Striveling” (Sterling), Scotland (Morgan, p. 214)

c. 1534 “The Exchequer”, Calais (16c) – plan in BL

1539-41 Falkland Palace (The National Trust for Scotland), Scotland; built for James V

16c Holyrood Palace, Water Gate, Edinburgh; used as at theatre in 1681

Greenwich (16c)

c. 1545 Christ Church, Oxford

Jeu Carre, New Hall, near Chelmsford (16c)

Westminster Palace – 1) The Great Open Tennis  Play (83 x 27 feet) 2; completed 1533-34) The Great Close Tennis Play 3) The Small Open Tennis  Play 4) The Small Close Tennis – the corner turret and one bay survive today; 5) Edward VI’s court 6) Charles II

1615 List of the 14 courts of London (held in Petworth archive) with dimensions

17c Royal Tennis Court, Hampton Court Palace

Norwich

Woodstock (16c – c.1723)

Oxford Colleges: Queen’s, Lincoln, Merton, Oriel (c. 1572) (an additional 4 not run by Colleges)

St Jame’s Palace (17c – c.1767)

Wilton House

Windsor (1676-1782)

Whitehall Palace

1798 Merton College, Oxford (original court built on this “Postmaster’s Hall” site was in 1595; court restored in 19c and 1912 by Bickley (including the floor)); 1608-1758 Lease held by Wood family; 1759-1836 Tompkins family; 1837-66 Thomas Sabin; 1866-pre WWII Tompkins followed by son-in-law Dickinson; 1961-65 Peter Ellis; 1965-72 Peter & Viv Dawes; 1972-74 Chris Ronaldson; Mick Dean, Mike Flanagan, Steve Ronaldson, Jerome Fletcher, Alan Oliver and Kees Ludekens (assistant before becoming Head pro, Cambridge); Andrew Davis (Head pro 2011-)

Bath, Julian Road (today, a Museum on the History of Industry in Bath)

19 century 

17c; restored 1887 Easton Neston, Northamptonshire; built by Sir Thomas Fermor-Hesketh “The longest court in England”

1817-20 Strathfieldsaye (Wellington)

c 1820-30 Coombe Abbey (restored)

c 1820-30 Hewell Grange (Lord Plymouth)

1837 Brighton

Lord’s First Court (1838; floor repaved 1866; demolished 1898 to make way for the Mound Stand); “Second” court 1900-; roof destroyed by a bomb during WWII; Head professionals: Jack Groom 1924-45; Henry Johns 1945-75; David Cull Adam Phillips 20

1840 Theobald’s Park (Henry Meux)

1843 Hatfield

1846 Leamington Tennis Court Club, Warwickshire

1866 Clare and Trinity College, Cambridge; “Green” Court; 1890 Second “Blue” Court (Bickley)

1852 Eamont Bridge (Lord Brougham)

1854 East Road “Philipp’s” Court, Cambridge

1874 Heytrop (Brassey)

1876 Petworth (Lord Leconfield) 

1878 jeu decouvert, Westgate-on-Sea (Sir WG Orchardson)

1878 Crawley Court (Kennard)

1879 Fairlawne, Shipbourne, Kent (Cazalet) – Private, Restricted access

1879 Canford (Sir Ivor Bertie Guest, Lord Wimborne); Renovated 1913 (Rackets court converted in squash courts in 1962), Roof restored 1935; Professionals: Edward “Ted” Johnson and son Edward, G.H.Holman (1933-35), W.D.Whiston; Canford School founded in 1923; Court restored after WWII in 1953; Professionals: Rob Bartlett (1980-2), Steve Ronaldson (1982-)

1880 Manchester 

1882 Whitlebury (R Loder)

1883 Sheen (Duc of Fife)

1884 Hyde House and Court, Bridport, Dorset (Gundry)

1887 The Queen’s Club – 2 Courts; William Cecil Marshall, Architect, Courts built by Joseph Bickley 

1889 and 1890 Prince’s Club – 2 courts

1889/90 Holyport, near Maidenhead (Heilbut) – Holyport Grange Tennis Club; Joseph Bickley 

1890 Rustall Hall (McClean)

1894 Jesmond Dene, Newcastle (Andrew Noble)

1896 First court, Hardwick House (CD Rose)

1900/01 Suffolk House, Newmarket (CD Rose) Bickley

1902 Chieveley (Colonel McCalmont)

1905 Troon (JOM Clark) – Troon, Scotland (Register for Scotland)  The court was reactivated by Alistair and Jill Breckenridge in 1969; Chris Ronaldson become the head pro in the late 1970s followed by Walter Gregg and Mike Gooding.  The building is listed but access has been restricted by the current owner of the house since 1991.  The court is essentially being left to rot – it is officially “AT RISK” on the Register for Scotland – something must be done to save this important Bickley gem of a court!

1906 Moreton Morrell (Charles T Garland; Colonel Ogilby); Joseph Bickley 

1907 Crabbett Park, Sussex (Neville Lytton and Baroness Wentworth); “converted to offices”; Dimensions: 110’4″ x 38’10” x 24′ (Garnett (2010), p. 151); Joseph Bickley

1907 Hardwick House, Pangbourne (near Reading) (Sir CD Rose) – Private;  The First court was built in 1896 (remains have been converted into a house); Eton Fives court (not in use); Joseph Bickley 

1909 Ditton Place, Balcombe (A. Horne) Dimensions: 78′ x 28′ x 16′ (MPG (2010), p. 151)

1912 Seacourt, Hayling Island (JF Marshall); Joseph Bickley 

The Modern Renaissance 1980-

1989/90 The Oratory School, Berkshire (Adrian Snow) 

1993-2006 Harbour Club, Chelsea Harbour, London

1997/98 Bristol & Bath, Beggar Bush playing fields, Clifton; Club was founded in 1985; Total cost of the court was: 565,000 (212,000 money raised and 353,000 Lottery); Dimensions: 110′ x 38′ x 32′ (Garnett (2010, p.151); Kevin King, Head professional 

1998/99 Prested Hall, Essex (Mike Carter) 2 Courts (“No 1” completed June 1999 and “No 2” court completed December 1998/early 1999) 

1999 “The Millennium Court at the Burroughs Club, Hendon” (Peter Luck-Hille); the court was designed in conjunction with PLH and built by architectural film Pringle Richards Sharratt; the court was the first to use Kalwall for upper walls and roof as well the first to use Armourcoat plaster (subsequently used in Chicago); “Middlesex University Tennis Club” (2009-); current Head professional Matty Ronaldson

2008 Radley College Tennis Court Club (Mick Dean); 2008- Chris Ronaldson, Head professional.

Future UK Courts: 

Wellington College – currently fundraising – contact the T&RA office if you would like to support this project.

Jersey, Channel Islands – 2 courts and a rackets court to be built as part of the new University of Jersey.  Please contact John Lawton for further details.

USA 

1876 Buckingham Street, Boston (Hollis Hunnewell and Nathaniel Thayer; Ted Hunt (UK) and Tom Pettitt (UK), professionals)

1880 National Tennis Club, Newport, RI – part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame

1888 Boston Athletic Association

1889-1907 First Philadelphia Club, Walnut Street

1891 First Racquet & Tennis Club, 27 West 43 Street, New York City (Robert Moore, Stanley Lambert and Alfred Tompkins)

1893-1901 Chicago First Court (Second Court 1923/24)

1899/1900 Tuxedo Club, Tuxedo Park, NY; Joseph Bickley  

c1900-06 Georgian Court, Lakewood, NJ (Frank Forester, Professional)- revived 2006; Joseph Bickley 

1902 Myopia Hunt Club, Hamilton, Boston

1904 Aiken Tennis Club, South Carolina (Whitney); Joseph Bickley 

1904 Tennis & Racquet Club, Boston – renovated roof 2013; Joseph Bickley  

1907 Racquet Club of Philadelphia, 16th Avenue; Joseph Bickley (Frederick Tompkins, professional)

1908-c.1920 Harvard University court 

1909 Roslyn, Long Island (Clarence Mackay)

Greentree, Manhasset, NY – dormant since 2000

1918 Racquet & Tennis Club, New York – 2 courts; McKim, Mead & White designed neo-Renaissance gem, courts by Joseph Bickley; Restricted access

1922 Racquet Club of Chicago; Joseph Bickley (restored and re-opened September 2012)

1997 Prince’s Court, Mclean, VA (Washington DC) (Haven Pell and Frederick Prince); 

Future USA courts:

Daniel Island, Charleston – is currently fundraising to build a court – please contact the USCTA to find out more information & support this exciting project!