Women playing at Lansdown West of England Tournament 1885/6, original photograph Private Collection on loan to the exhibition
Museum of Bath at Work
June 12 – October 31, 2025
An exciting exhibition revealing new research about the importance and popularity of tennis in Bath from Georgian times to the present day opens this June in a building which is itself a Georgian Real Tennis court. A wide range of displays will illustrate the development of the game from Real to Lawn tennis, including unique tennis trophies, early rackets, original costumes, tennis balls and manufacturing equipment, games and toys inspired by the sport, historic photographs and much more.
Highlighting the original use of the Museum building, the exhibition will include a newly developed trail to help visitors to understand how the building was used for Real Tennis and the historical clues which remain. The exhibition will explore the history of Real Tennis in Bath, look at how Lawn Tennis developed in the 1870s and quickly became hugely popular (especially among women) resulting in clubs springing up across the city. Bath is the only UK City to have two early foundation Lawn Tennis clubs still surviving and flourishing today – the Bath Tennis Club (founded 1880) and the Lansdown Lawn Tennis and Squash Club
(founded 1882).
The exhibition explores 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.
A programme of events to coincide with the exhibition will include lectures, in conversations, film screenings, a historic tennis match re-enactment, Heritage Day events with the tennis clubs, family activities including a children’s tennis trail and a section of the exhibition dedicated to games inspired by tennis.
Find out more about the exhibition and the events programme:
Museum of Bath at Work
Julian Road
BATH
BA1 2RH
01225 318348
www.museumofbath.org
Opening hours 10.30 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. ( last admission at 4.30 p.m.)
The Museum of Bath at Work are a Sporting Heritage Community Grant recipient, and we would like to acknowledge that this exhibition and event has been made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.
