Harrow Lawn Tennis Club is one of the area’s longest-established sporting communities, with roots dating back to 1880. Founded during the early years of modern lawn tennis, the club has grown from its origins on local grass and cinder courts into a thriving, multi-court facility serving players of all ages and abilities. Across more than a century of change, including multiple home venues, world wars, redevelopment projects, and periods of rapid growth, the club has maintained a strong focus on competitive tennis, social play, and community spirit.
Today, the club combines tradition with modern facilities, offering league competition, coaching programmes, social events, and access to high-quality courts. Generations of members have contributed to its development, helping Harrow Lawn Tennis Club remain both a competitive tennis environment and a welcoming social club.
Read or Download a History of Harrow Lawn Tennis Club – a revised edition of Alistair Lack’s “Harrow Lawn Tennis Club: a brief history, 1880 – 2000”
Edited by Michael Hammond
History
1877 advertisements for tennis equipment appear locally, providing early evidence of tennis activity in the area
1880 first newspaper reference to Harrow Lawn Tennis Club and widely accepted as the founding year
1881 early inter-club matches and the first recorded club finals take place
1885 Blanche Bingley becomes club champion and reaches the Wimbledon final
1893 first recorded committee meeting is held
1898 first Annual General Meeting is held and formal committee structure is established
1900 rent reduction at West Acre helps the club avoid closure
1914 to 1918 club activity is greatly reduced during World War I
1919 repairs and rebuilding work began after the war
1926 club moves from West Acre to courts at the King’s Head site
1961 club leaves the King’s Head site and begins search for a new home
1962 lease agreed for courts at Peterborough Hill and development of new facilities begins
1964 regular play begins at the Peterborough Hill courts
1970 club joins the Middlesex League
1979 clubhouse is destroyed by fire caused by vandals
1981 club relocates to courts at Harrow School under new lease agreement
2003 to 2005 major redevelopment of surrounding sports facilities takes place and new courts are built
2004 twelve new acrylic courts officially open
2007 membership grows to more than four hundred and a waiting list is introduced
2014 Ladies first team is promoted to the highest regional summer league division
2017 legal decision requires the restoration of the public footpath across part of the courts
2018 planned demolition of the pavilion is avoided after planning decision
2019 first Roger Frais Challenge Cup tournament is held