Now Royal Leamington Spa is well known for where Tennis was started and developed on the lawns of the Manor House Hotel, but how about this for a bit of history that few people appreciate took place. If you were to enter the Jephson Gardens through the main side gates on Newbold Terrace, and turn to the left there is the large area that at one time was just grass parkland.
Over the years trees have been planted and the concrete table tennis tables, that I believe were there at one time, removed.
But in 1881, not long before the turn of the century, the 20th Century that is, the Annual Royal Leamington Spa Tennis Tournament was started. This was played on this area of the gardens mentioned and had 5 tennis courts with a lot of work going into the setup of them in 1889.
The advent of World War 2 stopped all that enjoyment and the courts were ploughed up for producing food.
But back to 1902,
In July 1902, Mr. Egerton Allcock and his partner a Mr. Mellor, won the Gentleman’s Handicap beating Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Pierce, 3-6, 6-3, 14-12. This was in the days before the Tie-Breaker was introduced.
Below is the lovely Silver and glass Claret Jug that they won. I assume only one jug was given and was therefore shared.
Now, this lovely Claret Jug was made by the company of Horace Woodward and Co Ltd of Birmingham and London and assayed in London in 1901. On the 26 February 2024 it sold at auction for £340 + buyers premium. (“he pictures of the Jug are by kind permission of Felix Turner of Wimbledon Auctions who recently sold it)
Over the years, there were other sports played upon the lawn area. On the left is a picture of Archery taking place in 1934 and the other picture shows Putting taking place. These days the only sport seems to be a kick around between dads and their children.
David G.P. Morse, Vice Chair and Archivist, Leamington History Group
February 2024