ersey
Bowmen is reckoned to be the 2nd oldest lawn tennis club in
existence - even older than Wimbledon LTC. It was founded in 1781
as an archery club and occupied several sites, including Cazneau
Street and Lodge Lane, before moving into the park about 110 years
ago.
A fixture list for 1877 proves that tennis was being played at the club then (and possibly the year before) but Edgbaston Archers can prove that they started in 1876, and so claim to be the oldest.
- Mike Jackson
Although we no longer offer archery as an activity, the original emblem and moto, celeri certare sagitta ("to contend with a swift arrow"), are kept to signify the unique past of the Club.
From
Mike Royden's Local History Pages
:
"...Sefton Park led the way in providing pastimes by providing club houses and pavilions. Sefton Cricket Club played host to W.G. Grace at a charity match, and the Park became host to the Mersey Bowmen which was founded in 1790. There was provision made for bowling, model yatching, and horse riding on 'Rotten Row' on the perimeter of the Park...."
Mersey Bowmen is also mentioned in
Chapter 7
of
The Book of Archery
by George Hansard, 1841.
Finally, according to
Wigan Family & Local History Society
, there is a book titled
History of the Mersey Bowmen 1781-1926, written by F.E.
Pritchard.
e
would love to hear from you if you have any interesting tidbits of
the Club - please email us at
history@merseybowmen.org.uk.
