Sheffield Lawn Tennis Club
In his ‘Tennis in and Around Sheffield 1874 to 1914’ Andy Lusis reveals that ‘Sheffield LTC was unusual in that
it was an indoor club, playing on the wooden floor of the Drill Hall in Edmund Road, which had been built for the local
Artillery Volunteers and formally opened in June 1880. The membership seems to have included many of the leading
local players, most if not all of whom were also members of other clubs. Many of the matches played from 1882 to
the early 1890s were against prominent clubs, including Burton-on-Trent, Chapel Allerton, Doncaster, Huddersfield,
Hull and North Ferriby. These matches took place during the summer months. The secretary of the club was John
Parker Marsh.’
Now occupied by a dealer in specialist cars, and Grade II listed, matches of three pairs were possible with at least
three courts across the width of the building albeit with a limited run back of 6ft – the game was gentler in those
days. But the clear height of 40ft to the underside of the girders was better than the highest Hallamshire indoor
courts at 36ft and the ball might pass between the girders to even greater height, the curve of the roof being more
like the trajectory of a lob than the Hallamshire profile. The ample glazed roof area was eventually replaced with an
opaque covering. A mezzanine floor was added at some time in the 20th century to make it more commercially
viable. The roof structure was designed and manufactured by a company called Handyside of Derby who no doubt
learnt from their involvement before supplying the roof for the London Olympia with a height of 115 feet some eight
years later.
The undated b/w photo seems to fit the description of the opening ball decorations when some 2200 guests enjoyed
dancing and a menu including roast leveret! The list of those attending, too large to include here, includes one ‘Mr.
H.E.Watson’, to become Sir Henry six years later and first President of the Association in 1891. Was it he or one of
the other recognised tennis names of the time who saw the potential for tennis? The building was funded by private
enterprise, not becoming Crown property until 1910, so commercial initiatives resulted in its use from the start for
concerts, balls, roller skating, boxing matches, walking marathons, flower shows – and tennis. Charles Blondin the
tightrope walker appeared there in 1885; did he walk the length of the hall on the nets?! The Prime Minister held a
meeting there in 1903 and the suffragettes wrecked another in 1906.
Edmund Rd Drill Hall 2015, home of Sheffield LTC