Royal County of Berkshire Real Tennis Club
Encyclopedia
The Royal County of Berkshire Real Tennis Club operates the real tennis
court at Holyport
, Berkshire
, England
.
The court was built in 1889 by Sam Heilbut as part of his Holyport estate. For years Holyport was owned by the Martineau family, and a real tennis club was formed in 1953. When the last Martineau, Mrs. Janne Cahill, died in the 1980s, a small group led by Chris Ronaldson, Colin Lumley, and other tennis enthusiasts bought the court and an area of surrounding land. Access to the tennis house is via a one lane asphalt and gravel driveway, tucked behind a row of picturesque cottages on Holyport Street. The main house of the estate is now a nursing home.
The overall dimensions of the court are 111 feet by 38 feet 8 inches (33.83 × 11.79 m), with a floor of 96 feet by 31 feet 8 inches (29.26 × 9.65 m). The tambour
is 18½ inches wide by 25½ inches deep (470 × 648 mm). The court is well lit by both a skylight and clerestory windows. About a hundred and fifty members of the Royal County of Berkshire Real Tennis Club use the court.
In September 1993, The Prince Edward
first met his future wife, Sophie Rhys-Jones on the court. In 2005, Holyport hosted the Irish Open and Nationals
.
Real tennis
Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original indoor racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis , is descended...
court at Holyport
Holyport
Holyport is a village in the civil parish of Bray, about 2 miles south of Maidenhead in the English county of Berkshire.-Amenities:Despite its size, Holyport possesses a small retail area...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The court was built in 1889 by Sam Heilbut as part of his Holyport estate. For years Holyport was owned by the Martineau family, and a real tennis club was formed in 1953. When the last Martineau, Mrs. Janne Cahill, died in the 1980s, a small group led by Chris Ronaldson, Colin Lumley, and other tennis enthusiasts bought the court and an area of surrounding land. Access to the tennis house is via a one lane asphalt and gravel driveway, tucked behind a row of picturesque cottages on Holyport Street. The main house of the estate is now a nursing home.
The overall dimensions of the court are 111 feet by 38 feet 8 inches (33.83 × 11.79 m), with a floor of 96 feet by 31 feet 8 inches (29.26 × 9.65 m). The tambour
Tambour
In classical architecture, a tambour is the inverted bell of the Corinthian capital around which are carved acanthus leaves for decoration....
is 18½ inches wide by 25½ inches deep (470 × 648 mm). The court is well lit by both a skylight and clerestory windows. About a hundred and fifty members of the Royal County of Berkshire Real Tennis Club use the court.
In September 1993, The Prince Edward
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh...
first met his future wife, Sophie Rhys-Jones on the court. In 2005, Holyport hosted the Irish Open and Nationals
Irish Real Tennis Association
The Irish Real Tennis Association encourages the preservation and development of the game and facilities of real tennis in the Republic of Ireland.-Background:...
.