Real tennis is the original game from which the lawn version (and every other racquet sport) was derived. First played in the 13th century, the game is also known as royal tennis or (in the US) court tennis. A real tennis court is enclosed by walls on all four sides, three of which have sloping roofs, known as “penthouses,” beneath which are various openings (“galleries”) from which spectators can watch the game. There is also a buttress (tambour) which intrudes into the playing area off which shots may be played. The heavier cork-cored balls are handmade by club professionals, and require hand-sewing to re-cover with cloth every 2-3 weeks. 

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There are approximately 40 courts currently in use, the majority being in Britain. Today, the game is played in just four countries (the UK, US, France, and Australia), but at the height of its popularity in the 18th century, there were thousands of courts scattered across Europe.

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The oldest original court is at Falkland Palace in Scotland, built between 1539 and 1541. The site of the Royal Tennis Court at Hampton Court Palace pre-dates Falkland, but the current court was rebuilt by Charles I in 1625 on the original site (built by Cardinal Wolsey in the 1500’s).

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As a young man, Henry VIII was a keen and talented tennis player who spent hours on court. His second wife Anne Boleyn was gambling on a game of tennis when she was arrested to be taken to the Tower of London. She even complained that she couldn’t collect her winnings!