Courts of appeal

The ancient pastime of real tennis is enjoying a renaissance, with devotees drawn not only by the sport itself but also by the distinctive buildings that house it

- GABRIEL STONE

READERS of The Field may be surprised to learn there’s another sport dedicated to the chase. Rich in history, etiquette and aristocratic patronage, it may feel like an outdated irrelevance to the modern world but this sport quietly thrives, attracting loyal subscribers characterised by obsessive dedication and eccentric bonhomie. But it’s not just the people who make this sport so special; each location brings a distinct character and perhaps even famous features that devotees will travel far to experience. Sound familiar? No, it’s not the Ledbury’s legendary hedges; welcome instead to the world of real tennis.

Even if you’ve never heard of the game, you’ve probably seen a court. That distinctive high roof is hard to miss; however, many passers-by incuriously dismiss it as a Victorian warehouse or rather grand farm shed. Academic types will have cycled past one on their way to the Cambridge University Library or while bumping across the Merton Street cobbles of Oxford. Miscreants may recall the strange shape of the gym at former HMP Hewell. Culture vultures touring Petworth House or Hampton Court Palace may even have peered inside and tried to get their head around those ‘chase’ lines all over the floor. But real tennis is no museum piece, and at the heart of what makes this game so intriguing to play are the buildings themselves: quirky pieces of architecture that were often commissioned by equally idiosyncratic characters.