Where is the Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society?

The Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society is at 14a Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3TR. It is to the west of Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

 

In brief

The Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society is the oldest lawn tennis club in the world. Founded as the Edgbaston Archery Society in 1860, they moved to their current premises in 1867. Records show that lawn tennis was being played here as early as 1875.

Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society from Birmingham Botanical Gardens (May 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society - history

Originally founded in 1860 as the Edgbaston Archery Society, following a meeting at the Birmingham & Midland Institute. Originally playing at a site on Edgbaston Park Road (then known as Hall Hill Road). The club moved to their current premises next to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on a site on Westbourne Road in Edgbaston during 1867. A breakway club, the Edgbaston Cricket Club (founded by 1878) took over the old site, and later merged with the Priory Lawn Tennis Club to form the Edgbaston Priory Club in 1964.

By 1870 the game of croquet was introduced, and the society started to play that here.

It is known that Major Harry Gem and Augurio Perera played lawn tennis sometime between 1859 and 1865, but it is not known exactly when the society started playing lawn tennis. Although Gem was a member of the Archery Society from 1864 to 1869. And there is no proof that he introduced the game to the club at the time. Although Gem and Perera established a lawn tennis club in Leamington Spa by 1872. But records of 1875, shows that lawn tennis was being played here at the time. Meaning that The Archery is the oldest one to survive.

Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society from Birmingham Botanical Gardens (September 2019). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Blue plaque from the Birmingham Civic Society and Calthorpe Estates

A blue plaque for the Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society was unveiled in 2020, and can be seen by visitors to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society from Birmingham Botanical Gardens (December 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Transport to Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society

Members entrance by car on Westbourne Road.

By bus on the 10, 23, 24 and 25.

 

Contact details

Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society

14a Westbourne Road

Edgbaston

Birmingham

B15 3TR

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