Tennis courts in Rhyddings Park

[Gayle]

If you are a regular visitor to the park you'll know that the tennis courts are a bit of a mess at the moment.

Apparently before the tennis courts were there it was a garden or allotment in that part of the park. We know it's a long shot, but does anyone have any photos or even memories or has anyone ever seen it mentioned in a history book or anything. We could really do with finding out exactly what there was there.

[paulthepony]

sorry even as a child all i can remember was the tennis courts in good condition and being used oh and the pool

[Gayle]

When was that Paul - i can remember the tennis courts about 30 years ago, do you go any further back than that.

We're trying to establish when the courts were installed.

[paulthepony]

sorry no but i will dig out the old photos and have a look for them

[MargaretR]

I was born on Hornby St in 1942 and lived there until 1961.
It was a tennis court for all of that time - I played tennis a lot in my teens.
This is the first time I have ever heard that it was originally anything else.

[nortype]

you need to go back more than 50 years was tennis courts then.

[Gayle]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

I was born on Hornby St in 1942 and lived there until 1961.
It was a tennis court for all of that time - I played tennis a lot in my teens.
This is the first time I have ever heard that it was originally anything else.

I think it was the vegetable garden for the house that was there.

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by Gayle

I think it was the vegetable garden for the house that was there.

I remember it had an exceptionally high wall, which victorian veg gardens did.
Balls didn't get over that wall often.

[jaysay]

I'm the same as Margaret and nortype, can remember the tennis courts over 50 years ago and playing on them regularly in my teens, you had to book a court in those days, can remember men pushing notes through the park keepers door on their way to work in the mornings

[garinda]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

I was born on Hornby St in 1942 and lived there until 1961.
It was a tennis court for all of that time - I played tennis a lot in my teens.
This is the first time I have ever heard that it was originally anything else.

Since you were exactly the same age as my dad, and were also neighbours, I was going to confirm the same thing, that it was definitely a tennis court in the fifties.

I think we have a photograph of my dad, his cousin Dr. Alfred Aspinall, and Tony Perkins sat with their raquets at the courts. I'd guess it would be around 1957.

My mum went to see Mrs Groves last week. Ninety four and sharp as a pin. She's lived in the vicinity of the park all her life, so I'll find out if she knows when they were built.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by garinda

Since you were exactly the same age as my dad, and were also neighbours, I was going to confirm the same thing, that it was definitely a tennis court in the fifties.

I think we have a photograph of my dad, his cousin Dr. Alfred Aspinall, and Tony Perkins sat with their racquets at the courts. I'd guess it would be around 1957.

My mum went to see Mrs Groves last week. Ninety four and sharp as a pin. She's lived in the vicinity of the park all her life, so I'll find out if she knows when they were built.

Mrs Groves Rindi, that name turns the clock back and is actually very poignant given the fact that her daughter Jenifer died only a couple of weeks ago.

[firefighter753]

Why don't you look at the old ariel photos from the 1940s and 1960s on the LCC website