Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club

The Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club[3] is a tennis complex in Eastbourne, United Kingdom. The complex is the host of the annual ATP and WTA Tour tournament called the Eastbourne International.[4] The stadium court has a capacity of 8,000 people. The Devonshire Park, originally intended as a cricket ground, opened its gates to the public on 1 July 1874 and in 1879, the first tennis courts was marked out[5] on its lawns. In 1877 the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club set about regularising the laws of lawn tennis and produced its first tournament at Wimbledon running from July 9–16 of that year. In 1881 the club staged the inaugural South of England Championships, the event was played annually for 136 years until 1972.

Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club[1]
the club where sport and sociability walk hand in hand
LocationEastbourne, United Kingdom
Coordinates50.763686°N 0.283204°E / 50.763686; 0.283204
Surfacegrass
Opened1881[2]
Tenants
Devonshire Park F.C.
Fed Cup
Eastbourne International (WTA/ATP)
1881–1886
1977
(present)

In June 2016 the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and the Eastbourne council announced a £44m project to upgrade the park including a show court and new practice courts.[4]

Other Uses

Football

In 1881, Devonshire Park Football Club, now known as Eastbourne Town first played here on 26 October 1881, having failed to secure a site near to Guildredge Park, the Devonshire Park company agreed the club to use the facilities alongside the cricket club and the tennis.[6] This agreement lasted until 1886 when the tennis became more prominent and the club relocated to The Saffrons nearby.

  • Devonshire Park in May 2019
    Devonshire Park in May 2019
  • Centre court in April 2006
    Centre court in April 2006
  • Crowd at Devonshire Park during the 2014 Aegon International
    Crowd at Devonshire Park during the 2014 Aegon International
  • Devonshire Park in September 2021
    Devonshire Park in September 2021

See also

References
  1. "Venues: Where to Play". lta.org.uk. Lawn Tennis Association of Great Britain. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  2. "Devonshire Park: History". eastbourne.gov.uk. Eastbourne Council Local Authority. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  3. Clarke, James (16 June 2014). "How has Eastbourne become a major part of the tennis calendar?". BBC News. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  4. "Aegon International: LTA & council announce £44m Eastbourne revamp". BBC Sport. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  5. Gordon, Kevin (2013). Eastbourne Through Time. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445628042. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  6. 'unknown' (22 October 1881). "Eastbourne Football Club 1881". Eastbourne Chronicle. p. 5.

Roller Skates and Rackets: EBC 1999


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