A 17th Century Tennis court. By the sixteenth century tennis was already an old game and formed part of a young Henry VIII’s education and over the next 20-25 years. He built tennis-plays or courts, the most impressive of which was ‘the great covered courts’ built at Hampton Court Palace and Whitehall in 1532-33. In Great Britain, as in France, royal patronage ensured the continued popularity of the game and Stuart Kings in the 17th century were enthusiastic players.

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A 17th Century Tennis court. By the sixteenth century tennis was already an old game and formed part of a young Henry VIII’s education and over the next 20-25 years. He built tennis-plays or courts, the most impressive of which was ‘the great covered courts’ built at Hampton Court Palace and Whitehall in 1532-33. In Great Britain, as in France, royal patronage ensured the continued popularity of the game and Stuart Kings in the 17th century were enthusiastic players. George IV (1763-1830), Prince Albert (1819-1861) – there is a locker in the changing room at Hampton Court Palace which still bears his name – Edward VII (1842-1910) and George V (1866-1936) have all supported the game.

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Size: 4440px × 3752px
Location: Hampton Court Palace. Middlesex, England
Photo credit: © De Luan / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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