~ Construction of the Club House & Seven Courts ~
The Sports Club & Tennis Courts at Dovercourt Bay, Essex, were constructed in 1911 and officially opened on Friday 12th April 1912, which coincided with the Maiden transatlantic sailing of the RMS Titanic, which sadly sunk two days later on Sunday 14th 1912.
Construction began in 1911, with the land being first levelled then the courts & club house being built. The club had seven courts and were used the following year for the 2nd Open Tennis championships in May 1913.
These rare images, although not great quality were taken by local photographer Frederick Percy Wallis, who had studios in Oakley & Harwich.
Construction began in 1911, with the land being first levelled then the courts & club house being built. The club had seven courts and were used the following year for the 2nd Open Tennis championships in May 1913.
These rare images, although not great quality were taken by local photographer Frederick Percy Wallis, who had studios in Oakley & Harwich.
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1911) Wallis H&D F S1_N02
Site of the "Sports Club" & Tennis Courts. "Rhine House" at the bottom of St Georges Avenue can be seen to the top right. Fronks Avenue had not been built as yet. The image captures one of the "Levellers" with his dogs.
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1911) Wallis H&D F S1_N03
One of the other "Levellers" with his dogs
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1911) Wallis H&D F S1_N04
The "Levellers" Team in July 1911
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1911) Wallis H&D F S1_N05
Laying the Foundations
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1911) Wallis H&D F S1_N06
Digging the foundations for the Tennis Courts
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1912) Wallis H&D F S1_N07
Opening Day April 12th 1912
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1912) Wallis H&D F S1_N08
Tennis Nets being laid out, prior to line marking.
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1912) Wallis H&D F S1_N11
The newly Built Sports Club
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1912) Wallis H&D F S1_N13
Installation of the perimeter fences
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1912) Wallis H&D F S1_N07
Opening Day April 12th 1912, with the first matches being played
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1912) Wallis H&D F S1_N23
Tennis Courts & Club House
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S1_N27
Mixed Doubles Open Tennis championships
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S1_N29
Tennis Courts & Sea Front
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S1_N30
Donovan Foster, N.W. Dacimay & Capatain Boyle R.M.
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S1_N32
O.Henery
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S1_N33
Mrs Jatherwaite, Wallace Myers & Mrs Brecden
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S1_N34
B.B. Burke
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S1_N35
H.C. Lindley
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S1_N36
B.C. Hughes, H.C. Hughes, J.J. Watts & G. Stoddart
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S1_N37
W.C. Scott
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S2_N04
B.C. Hughes, Mrs Day & N.W. Daliway
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S2_N05
Mrs Burke, Major Burke, Sid Adams & Scott Reid
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S2_N08
Winners of "Open Tennis championships"
Standing : Mrs Foster, Alison, Donovan & Miss Hervey
Sitting : Mrs Gifford, Mrs H Ward & Miss Fison
Standing : Mrs Foster, Alison, Donovan & Miss Hervey
Sitting : Mrs Gifford, Mrs H Ward & Miss Fison
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S2_N09
Winners of "Open Tennis championships"
Standing : B.C. Hughes, H.C. Carlyon Hughes, C.A.H & Graves
Sitting : B.B. Burke, J.C. Hughes & H.M.A. Ward
Standing : B.C. Hughes, H.C. Carlyon Hughes, C.A.H & Graves
Sitting : B.B. Burke, J.C. Hughes & H.M.A. Ward
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S2_N13
Spectators enjoying the Tennis
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S2_N14
Mrs D & R Matthew
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S2_N15
Discussing Match Tactics
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S2_N16
Umpire & Court Action
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S2_N17
Umpire recording Match Players Names
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S2_N19
Waiting for the Final
Sports Club & Tennis Courts, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Wallis H&D F S2_N20
The Ladies Doubles Final