Foundation

‘The All England Croquet Club’ was private Club founded in 1868 in Wimbledon and this club is responsible for the foundation of the world’s oldest and the most famous tennis tournament – The Championships, Wimbledon.

Lawn tennis was the game which was first added to this club’s activities in 1875, and according to that club changed the name to ‘The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club’. Lawn tennis soon was the only activity of the club, and already in 1882 word “croquet” was removed from club’s official name, but for sentimental reasons club restored the old name in 1899. Since then, the club is well known all over the world as ‘The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club’.

The first event held on Wimbledon was the Gentlemen’s single in 1877, which was won by Spencer Gore. Soon after that, in 1884, Ladies’ Singles and Gentlemen’s Doubles were introduced to The Championships. Read more…