Prince's Club
Opening of the New Prince's Club, Knightsbridge, by the Prince of Wales, showing the tennis match between Mr Alfred Lyttelton and C Saunders.
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| Formation | 1853 |
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| Extinction | 1940 |
| Type | Private members' club |
| Legal status | Defunct |
| Purpose | Sport, social |
| Location |
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| Coordinates |
51°30′05″N 0°09′48″W / 51.50139°N 0.16333°WCoordinates: 51°30′05″N 0°09′48″W / 51.50139°N 0.16333°W (As of 1888) |
The Prince's Club was a socially exclusive gentlemen's multisports club in London, England. The original 'Old Prince's Club' was founded in 1853 in Chelsea by George and James Prince and its main sports were rackets and real tennis. Cricket, croquet and lawn tennis were also played. After most of its ground was lost to building developments it closed in 1887. Its successor, the 'New Prince's Club', located in Knightsbridge, opened in 1888 and kept its focus on rackets and real tennis, but no longer had any outdoor sports. In 1896 the Prince's Skating Club was opened. The Prince's Club was in operation until the 1940s.
The "Old Prince's Club" was founded in 1853 by George and James Prince, owners of a wine and cigar shop in Regent Street, and it opened in 1854. Located on Henry Holland's Pavilion estate, between the current Lennox Gardens, Cadogan Square and Hans Place, an area covering about 13 acres, it was originally a members-only gentlemen's rackets and real tennis club. Gentlemen wishing to join the club had to be proposed and seconded by two of its members. The members were allowed to introduce two friends, who were charged double the rate if they played. Another club rule stated that "no hazard, dice, or game of chance be allowed in this Club". In 1864 the club was incorporated as Prince's Racquets & Tennis Club Company Ltd.
The club's main rackets court, which became known as the Prince’s Match Court, set the standard dimensions (60 x 30 ft) and was the location of the most important matches of the time. Another six rackets courts were later added around the main court with varying sizes, some built wider for doubles matches. The University racket matches between Oxford and Cambridge were held at the club from 1858 onwards and an annual competition for the Public Schools Championship was added in 1868 with Eton, Harrow, Cheltenham and Charterhouse competing in the first edition.
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