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Anyone for tennis?

Published on June 30th, 2025

As the nation once again suffers from a heady case of Wimbledon fever, we turn to the Archive and present to you a special selection of tennis-themed images. The earliest photograph of people playing tennis we found was taken at Buxton in Derbyshire in 1886, with the players in many layers of formal clothing. Join us through the decades all the way to 1960s and the iconic All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon.

Cliftonville, Tennis Players By The Bungalow Tea Rooms 1925

Photo: Cliftonville, Tennis Players By The Bungalow Tea Rooms 1925.

Buxton, The Pavilion Gardens 1886
These women players at Buxton in 1886 are at a considerable disadvantage with their long, billowing dresses and broad-brimmed headgear. The Victorian tennis authorities had suggested that the ball should be allowed to bounce twice to give the ladies time to get about the court, but the idea was rejected. However, ladies were allowed to serve underarm – if they had made any attempt at over-arm serving they would have knocked off their hats. It was considered very bad form to volley or smash, and lobbing was unheard-of.

Photo: Buxton, The Pavilion Gardens 1886.

Newquay, From The Fish Cellars 1887
A small party is enjoying a game of tennis on the rocky beach. Despite the warm weather they are sweltering under their many layers of heavy clothing. After the game they will return to their holiday villa, similar to those we can see on the slopes across the bay.

Photo: Newquay, From The Fish Cellars 1887.

Hendon, Sunningfields Lawn Tennis Club c.1890
Leamington Spa in Warwickshire can claim to be the home of Lawn Tennis. Major Harry Gem, a local solicitor, founded the world’s first club in the town. He and three friends set up courts just behind the former Manor House Hotel in 1872, and two years later founded a club. It was in Leamington Tennis Club that the modern rules of Lawn Tennis were drawn up in 1874.

Photo: Hendon, Sunningfields Lawn Tennis Club c.1890.

Moffat, British Tennis Championships 1892
At the beginning of the 20th century, Moffat attracted tourists wishing to sample the delights of the nearby sulphureous-saline wells. It was around this time that tennis became something of an event, with most spa towns organising annual tournaments.

Photo: Moffat, British Tennis Championships 1892.

Newquay, The Tennis Courts 1918
Frith photographers return to Newquay thirty years later but to the tennis courts this time. Players are dressed in their tennis whites for a game of mixed doubles in the sunshine.

Photo: Newquay, The Tennis Courts 1918.

Blackburn, Corporation Park Tennis Courts 1923
The Grand opening of Corporation Park was in 1857, and ten tennis courts were laid out the year before this photograph was taken.

Photo: Blackburn, Corporation Park Tennis Courts 1923.

Cambridge, St John's College Tennis Court c.1955
In the 1950s, tennis etiquette eased a little and allowed its fans to wear shorts as opposed to full-length trousers - still definitely whites though! This group of students play with wooden rackets in front of the incredible buildings of St John's College, Cambridge.

Photo: Cambridge, St John's College Tennis Court c.1955.

Wimbledon, The Centre Court, The Park 1950
The famous and prestigious tennis tournament that takes place every summer in London’s south-west suburb of Wimbledon, at the All England Tennis Club, has been held since 1877 and is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments (the other three Majors being the Australian Open, French Open and US Open) but is now unique for being the only one still played on grass, the original surface that gave the game of lawn tennis its name.

This photograph shows the impressive Centre Court building from the cows' point of view!

Photo: Wimbledon, The Centre Court, The Park 1950.

Wimbledon, Centre Court c.1960
A ladies doubles match in progress at Wimbledon in the 1960s.

Photo: Wimbledon, Centre Court c.1960.

Wimbledon, Entrance To The Centre Court 1961
The gates of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club as it looked in 1961.

Photo: Wimbledon, Entrance To The Centre Court 1961.

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