Francis Erwood
Encyclopedia
Francis Elliston Erwood (1824-78) was designated in the Guinness Book of Records the first closed court rackets world champion. The title, together with a £400 prize, was gained following two matches in 1860, the first at the Royal Artillery
Court, Woolwich
and the second at the Eglintoun Arms, Maudlin Street, Bristol
when Erwood twice defeated open court champion professional John Charles Mitchell (1823-61). The title passed to amateur/gentleman player William Hart-Dyke
in 1862 after another two-match duel, when the prize money
was only £100.
in London
, the son of George Erwood, a baker and biscuit maker, and his wife Frances (born Elliston). He was a racquet
and ball maker as well as professional player and instructor to army officers in Woolwich. His older brother, George Erwood, was of a similar mould and in 1860 was the new racket master at Hampstead
.
About 1863 Frank's left eye was damaged whilst playing and was he obliged to end his career.
Marrying in 1855, Frank had four children, the daughters of whom emigrated to Canada and the USA; his son followed him into the business of racquet and ball making. His wife dying in 1870, Frank followed her on 7 October 1878 at Woolwich
.
Frank's winning racquet was for many years kept by one of his descendents, but it is now believed to reside at one of the squash clubs in Bromley
, Kent
.
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
Court, Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
and the second at the Eglintoun Arms, Maudlin Street, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
when Erwood twice defeated open court champion professional John Charles Mitchell (1823-61). The title passed to amateur/gentleman player William Hart-Dyke
William Hart Dyke
Sir William Hart Dyke, 7th Baronet PC, DL, JP was an English Conservative politician and tennis pioneer.-Background and education:...
in 1862 after another two-match duel, when the prize money
Prize money
Prize money has a distinct meaning in warfare, especially naval warfare, where it was a monetary reward paid out to the crew of a ship for capturing an enemy vessel...
was only £100.
Life
Frank Erwood was born on 17 March 1824 at Doctors' CommonsDoctors' Commons
Doctors' Commons, also called the College of Civilians, was a society of lawyers practising civil law in London. Like the Inns of Court of the common lawyers, the society had buildings with rooms where its members lived and worked, and a large library...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the son of George Erwood, a baker and biscuit maker, and his wife Frances (born Elliston). He was a racquet
Racquet
A racquet or racket is a sports implement consisting of a handled frame with an open hoop across which a network of cord is stretched tightly. It is used for striking a ball in such games as squash, tennis, racquetball, and badminton...
and ball maker as well as professional player and instructor to army officers in Woolwich. His older brother, George Erwood, was of a similar mould and in 1860 was the new racket master at Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
.
About 1863 Frank's left eye was damaged whilst playing and was he obliged to end his career.
Marrying in 1855, Frank had four children, the daughters of whom emigrated to Canada and the USA; his son followed him into the business of racquet and ball making. His wife dying in 1870, Frank followed her on 7 October 1878 at Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
.
Frank's winning racquet was for many years kept by one of his descendents, but it is now believed to reside at one of the squash clubs in Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.