Pimlico in City of Westminster in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
Walter Clopton Wingfield
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 29, 2026
1. Walter Clopton Wingfield Marker
Major Walter Clopton Wingfield
1833-1912
Father of Lawn Tennis
lived here
Erected 1987 by Greater London Council.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is October 16, 1833.
Location. 51° 29.333′ N, 0° 8.087′ W. Marker is in City of Westminster, England, in Greater London. It is in Pimlico. It is at the intersection of St.George's Square and Lupus Street when traveling north on St.George's Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33 St.George's Square, City of Westminster, England SW1V 2HX, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Greater South East. Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sir Alan Dawtry (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); William Morris Hughes (about 150 meters
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Walter Clopton Wingfield (Wikipedia). Overview:
Major Walter Clopton Wingfield MVO (16 October 1833 18 April 1912) was a Welsh inventor and a British Army officer who was one of the pioneers of lawn tennis. Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1997 as the founder of modern lawn tennis, an example of the original equipment for the sport and a bust of Wingfield can be seen at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.(Submitted on March 29, 2026.)
2. Walter Clopton Wingfield (Wikipedia). Excerpt:
Wingfield is best known as an amateur inventor and for patenting the game of lawn tennis in 1874. Its basic principles were not new, but it was he who had the idea of formalising rules and standardising a tennis set that included(Submitted on March 29, 2026.)racquets, balls, posts and a net. Inspired by a Greek word pertaining to ball-games, Wingfield called the sets Sphairistike a name which never caught on.Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 29, 20262. Walter Clopton Wingfield Marker - wide view
The sets were sold at five guineas a throw by Messrs French & Co at nearby 46 Churton Street, off Belgrave Street. Lawn tennis quickly became a very popular and sociable open-air pursuit for the middle classes. By 1877, the All England Croquet Club at Wimbledon had added lawn tennis to its title, and many croquet lawns were turned into tennis courts.
However, the game developed rapidly from Major Wingfields original rules, which envisaged an hour-glass shaped court and a higher net than modern players would recognise. Later in life, Wingfield tried (and failed) to repeat his success by developing group bicycle-riding in time to martial music, as described in his book Bicycle Gymkhana and Musical Rides (1897).
Additional keywords. blue plaque
Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 29, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
