| Photographs: | |
|---|---|
| List: | Register of the National Estate |
| Class: | Historic |
| Legal Status: | Registered (21/03/1978) |
| Place ID: | 2364 |
| Place File No: | 1/12/036/0459 |
| Statement of Significance: |
|---|
| Building 42 has high significance as a rare surviving rackets court dating from the mid-nineteenth century. It predates the wide establishment of the game (which dates from 1853) and is thought to be one of the oldest surviving standard size rackets courts in the world. The rarity of survivors results from the decline of rackets and the rise of squash rackets in the twentieth century (Criterion B.2). The building reflects the role of the military in disseminating the game of rackets from England in the second half of the nineteenth century. Since construction in 1847 it has been continuously used for ball games (though not for rackets) (Criterion A.4). |
| Official Values: Not Available |
| Description: |
|
History:
Building 42 is one of the original buildings of the Victoria barracks complex, constructed between 1842 and 1847. It was built as a rackets court, as shown by the standard court size (60ft by 30ft) and by the painted markings revealed on the stone flagged floor during renovation in 1982-83. Rackets was the progenitor of the modern squash rackets, using a hard ball and a court almost twice as big as the modern squash court. The game of rackets evolved in England, was formalised with its introduction to Harrow School in 1822 and became well established in clubs, universities and the military as a result of the construction of courts at the Prince's Club in Hans Place London, in 1853 (demolished 1886). The game flourished in the 1860s and 1870s and was spread abroad particularly by the armed forces. It fell into decline after World War One because of its expense and the rising popularity of squash rackets, which used a court only about half as big as the rackets court. The building was originally a single rectangular unroofed space with exposed sandstone walls and floor, apart from a brick partition wall at the north end making a narrow change room. At the time of construction the building was described as a court for ball games; it was not described as a rackets court until the twentieth century, by which time it had already ceased to be used as such. After various minor additions and alterations it was described in 1901 as a bowling alley. At an unknown later time two brick cross walls were built to make three squash courts aligned at right angles to the original court and three doorways for them were cut in the eastern wall. In 1982-83 all the later additions were removed and two squash courts with improved amenities were built within the original stone structure. In this process much of the sandstone flagged floor had to be removed, while other parts of it were lifted and relaid at a slightly lower level to provide space for a new concrete slab floor to be laid over. Description: This is a large rectangular building (70ft by 30ft, providing for the original rackets court and a narrow change room space), of dressed sandstone. The side walls rake downward at the northern (original service) end. The original ground level door and window at this end have been bricked up. Toothed bonding to the north-west and south-west corners suggests that there may have been plans to add another building to the west side. The roof structure is modern (1983) and incorporates an upper level entrance at the north end. The interior has been completely modernised (1983). |
| History: Not Available |
| Condition and Integrity: |
| The building was completely modernised in 1982-83. This involved new roof, new internal walls, fixtures and surfaces and a new concrete slab floor which was laid over retained parts of the original stone flagged floor. Drainage works were carried out. Structural condition and state of repair is good. (1990) |
| Location: |
| Building 42, Victoria Barracks, Oxford Street, Paddington. |
| Bibliography: |
|
ROSEMARY ANNABLE: VICTORIA BARRACKS BUILDING 42, 5 JULY 1982. E HIGGINBOTHAM: REPORT ON BUILDING 42, VICTORIA BARRACKS..., FOR DEPT OF HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION, JUNE 1983. E HIGGINBOTHAM, VICTORIA BARRACKS SQUASH COURT PHOTOGRAPHIC REPORT, REPORT FOR DEPT OF HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION JUNE 1983. ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITTANICA: RACKETS J ARLOTT, THE OXFORD COMPANION TO SPORTS AND GAMES, PALADIN, PP 718- 723. |
Report Produced: Wed Feb 10 00:50:36 2010