Time for Tennis

The game of tennis probably has its origins in the Middle Ages, when people would whack a ball back and forth with their bare or gloved hands, before evolving to the form recognisable today, in which a racket is used to hit the ball. This probably occurred sometime before the start of the 15th century.

Royal interest in England began with Henry V (1413 to 1422), but it would be Henry VIII (1509 to 1547) who would be the first to embrace it with great enthusiasm. Henry VII (1485 to 1509) had already had a number of courts built in his palaces, but Henry VIII would have his very own built at Hampton Court in 1530.  Intriguingly, it is believed that Henry's second wife Anne Boleyn was watching a game of tennis when she was arrested and that Henry was playing a game when news came of her execution. Tennis really has a lot to answer for.

This scene was built by James Pegrum as part of a series of models on British history. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see them first.