Oriel Square tennis court

The Oriel Square tennis court was a real tennis court that was located in Oriel Square, central Oxford, England.[1] The Liber Albus mentions the Oriel court being in Vinehall Lane in 1577.[2]

Charles I played tennis here with his nephew Prince Rupert in December 1642 and the future King Edward VII, accompanied by the Duke of Marlborough, played tennis here in 1859.[3]

The court survived until 1923, when it was used as a lecture hall by Oriel College, though it may have seen earlier use as a theatre.[2] The site is now the location of Oriel College's Harris Building, used for student accommodation, a seminar room and lecture theatre.

The only active court left in the city is the Merton Street tennis court.[4]

Further reading
  • Tennis and Oxford by Jeremy Potter; 1st edition of 1994; 152 pp in 8vo and dw.

References
  1. Hibbert, Christopher, ed. (1988). "Real Tennis". The Encyclopaedia of Oxford. Macmillan. p. 356. ISBN 0-333-39917-X.
  2. Crossley, Alan (editor), 'Social and Cultural Activities', A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 4: The City of Oxford (1979) — Oxford University Press British History Online ISBN 0-19-722714-7
  3. Jackson's Oxford Journal, 29 October 1859
  4. "Home". outc.org.uk.

51.75202°N 1.25427°W / 51.75202; -1.25427


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