Category Archives: History of Lawn Tennis

Harry Gem Grave Restoration Appeal – £5,500 raised so far

Posted on December 6, 2017 by admin

The appeal for funds to restore Harry Gem’s grave in Warstone Lane Cemetery at the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter has begun. Just over £7,000 is needed to rebuild the grave architecture and we aim to raise an extra £2,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Aims, Grave - Harry Gem, Harry Gem, History of Lawn Tennis, Obituary - Harry Gem, Scrapbook - Harry Gem | Leave a comment

‘Court on Canvas’ – a book for all lovers of lawn tennis

Posted on April 22, 2017 by admin
Posted in Ampton Road, Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society, Harry Gem, History of Lawn Tennis, Perera | Leave a comment

BBC Antiques Road Trip

Posted on September 14, 2016 by admin

Back in March we filmed, in the garden at Ampton Road and in the Birmingham Library,  a piece with Philip Serrell for the BBC’s Antiques Road Trip series. This will be broadcast in the programme at 4:30pm on Monday 19th … Continue reading →

Posted in Ampton Road, Grave - Harry Gem, History of Lawn Tennis, Perera, Scrapbook - Harry Gem, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

World of Tennis

Posted on March 7, 2016 by admin

Last year we filmed a piece for World of Tennis which was broadcast on BT Sport. Filming took place at the Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society, the oldest lawn tennis club in the world, and the Ampton Road house, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ampton Road, Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society, History of Lawn Tennis, Perera | Leave a comment

Who was Perera?

Posted on September 2, 2013 by admin

Much has been written about Harry Gem but of his friend and co-pioneer in lawn tennis not much is known. He was described thus in a newspaper report entitled ‘THE OLD RACQUET CLUB, BATH STREET – A BIT OF BIRMINGHAM … Continue reading →

Posted in Ampton Road, Bath Street Racquets Club, History of Lawn Tennis, Leamington Club, Perera, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

See Greg Rusedski playing under Harry Gem’s rules…

Posted on August 20, 2013 by admin

Our day with Greg Rusedski in the garden at the house in Ampton Road, Edgbaston finally saw the light of day in Episode 4 of ITV’s Britain’s Secret Homes, which aired on Friday 28th June 2013. Watch the video here … Continue reading →

Posted in Ampton Road, Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society, Greg Rusedski, History of Lawn Tennis | Leave a comment

Greg plays under Gem’s rules.

Posted on May 4, 2013 by admin

Wednesday 18th April 2013 saw trustees Chris, Sue and Robert at Fairlight, Ampton Road, Edgbaston to recreate once again Gem and Perera’s lawn rackets court in the garden of the Perera’s former home.

Posted in Ampton Road, Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society, Greg Rusedski, History of Lawn Tennis | Leave a comment

Court on Canvas Success for the Barber Institute

Posted on December 8, 2011 by admin

The exhibition exploring lawn tennis as a subject in art has become the most popular show ever staged at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. The exhibition attracted almost 23,000 people – eclipsing previous exhibitions focusing on Constable, Turner and … Continue reading →

Posted in Exhibitions, History of Lawn Tennis | Leave a comment

From the Birmingham Post 1995

Posted on December 5, 2011 by admin
Posted in Ampton Road, Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society, History of Lawn Tennis, Leamington Club | Leave a comment

Gem & Perera’s first game at Ampton Road, Edgbaston

Posted on June 25, 2011 by admin

It was in 1859 that lawn tennis pioneer Harry Gem and his friend JBA Perera first experimented with a game recognizably the forerunner of the modern game of lawn tennis and which they called Pelota, in homage to Perera’s Spanish … Continue reading →

Posted in Ampton Road, Bath Street Racquets Club, History of Lawn Tennis, Leamington Club | Leave a comment