From the Museum of Bath at Work: On Court: The museum opened an exhibition in June entitled On Court: Bath and Tennis Indoor to Outdoor. Through interpretation boards and loan items it reveals the rich history of tennis in Bath from the indoor real tennis courts of Georgian times, including the building housing the Museum itself, through early lawn tennis clubs to a game still thriving in the city today.
Did you know that Bath had two of the earliest clubs in the country, Bath Lawn Tennis Club and Lansdown Lawn Tennis Club which are still in existence today, and that the city hosted the prestigious West of England open tournament in the 1880s?
The magnificent silver trophy, or Bath Cup, presented to the men’s singles champion will be on display. The exhibition shows the increasing popularity of tennis in the twentieth century as clubs associated with churches and workplaces, and the provision of public courts, made it accessible for all.
The game of tennis is placed in the context of a broader social history. One focus is on clothing – there are costumes on display which show changes from the 1880s onwards. Another theme is the local manufacture of tennis rackets, corsets, gut for tennis racket strings and of course tennis balls, still proudly made in Box by Price of Bath. Many examples of which will be on display.
Exhibition only CLOSED MONDAY AFTERNOONS, open all other days with admission to the Museum.