club history:
Originally there were three grass courts on the site. The courts belonged to Southlands, which was a grand mansion, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Aitken. Mr. Aitken was a wealthy local dignitary owning J.B. Aitkens chemicals business in Widnes. He is still remembered by some local people as a strict tee-total Methodist, with a long white beard.
On his death in 1934 the house was given to the Salvation Army and became an old people’s home. The courts were given to the local people to whom Mr. Aitken had allowed use over the years. Trustees had to be nominated and the land is held in trust to this day specifically for the playing of tennis. In Mr. Aitken’s day, no tennis was allowed on Sundays!
There was a small pavilion alongside the original grass courts. This had no water supply so water for a cup of tea had to be fetched from the house. Early members of the club recall that there was a pit in the adjacent field and the young men of the club used to have a swim there in hot weather. Around 1934 two of the grass courts were replaced by hard courts built by En Tout Cas.
At a later date the pavilion was destroyed by fire and replaced with a new one. This was of sectional concrete construction and rather bleak.
In the mid 1980s a piece of land fronting on to Manston Road was sold and the income was used for improvements. The third court received a hard surface and the pavilion was improved with the addition of toilets, showers and a bar.
In 1997 a major series of improvements was undertaken. The Club was fortunate to receive considerable financial help from three sources. The National Lottery and the Sports Council provided considerable sums towards the cost of upgrading the courts. Doe Sports undertook this work which provided a modern, synthetic surface for the three courts, together with new nets, posts and stop netting. Assistance was also given by Doe Sports with landscaping work to the grounds.
The pavilion was given a major upgrading by courtesy of Whitbreads and received a new internal layout, total redecoration, recarpeting, a new suspended ceiling and lighting. Additional electrical work and plumbing was undertaken.
It is believed the first courts were built in the 1920’s.
Any additional information or photos regarding the Club’s past will be welcome to enable a more detailed history to be compiled.
If you enjoyed reading this, why not check out another article, "From years gone by- 1996"- written by our club tournament organiser, Alan Moore:
On his death in 1934 the house was given to the Salvation Army and became an old people’s home. The courts were given to the local people to whom Mr. Aitken had allowed use over the years. Trustees had to be nominated and the land is held in trust to this day specifically for the playing of tennis. In Mr. Aitken’s day, no tennis was allowed on Sundays!
There was a small pavilion alongside the original grass courts. This had no water supply so water for a cup of tea had to be fetched from the house. Early members of the club recall that there was a pit in the adjacent field and the young men of the club used to have a swim there in hot weather. Around 1934 two of the grass courts were replaced by hard courts built by En Tout Cas.
At a later date the pavilion was destroyed by fire and replaced with a new one. This was of sectional concrete construction and rather bleak.
In the mid 1980s a piece of land fronting on to Manston Road was sold and the income was used for improvements. The third court received a hard surface and the pavilion was improved with the addition of toilets, showers and a bar.
In 1997 a major series of improvements was undertaken. The Club was fortunate to receive considerable financial help from three sources. The National Lottery and the Sports Council provided considerable sums towards the cost of upgrading the courts. Doe Sports undertook this work which provided a modern, synthetic surface for the three courts, together with new nets, posts and stop netting. Assistance was also given by Doe Sports with landscaping work to the grounds.
The pavilion was given a major upgrading by courtesy of Whitbreads and received a new internal layout, total redecoration, recarpeting, a new suspended ceiling and lighting. Additional electrical work and plumbing was undertaken.
It is believed the first courts were built in the 1920’s.
Any additional information or photos regarding the Club’s past will be welcome to enable a more detailed history to be compiled.
If you enjoyed reading this, why not check out another article, "From years gone by- 1996"- written by our club tournament organiser, Alan Moore: