The All-England Croquet Club was founded on 23 July 1868 by six gentlemen at the offices of The Field magazine, during the height of a national croquet craze in Victorian England. Initially dedicated solely to croquet, the club would later evolve with the times, adding a single lawn tennis court and changing its name in 1877 to The All-England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club as the new sport surged in popularity and again in 1899 to All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

In 1870, the club hosted its first croquet competition, but a turning point came when the club’s horse-drawn roller, used to maintain the croquet lawns, broke down. Facing the cost of replacement (£10), a considerable sum at the time – the club devised an innovative fundraising idea: to stage a tennis tournament on its lone court.

To their surprise, 200 spectators attended the event, each paying 10 shillings for entry. The proceeds not only covered the cost of the new roller but also marked the first time the club turned a profit – planting the seed for what would become the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.

The Wimbledon Championships began in 1877, organised by the All-England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club. The first tournament was held at the club’s grounds in Worple Road, Wimbledon, southwest London.

• The inaugural event was a Gentlemen’s Singles competition with 22 players.
• It was held over five days, culminating on 9 July 1877, with Spencer Gore defeating William Marshall.
• Entry cost was one guinea (£1.05 today), and spectators were charged one shilling, reinforcing the sport’s elite status at the time and limiting entry to the wealthy or upper-middle classes.
• A temporary stand was erected to accommodate approximately 200 spectators.

At the time, matches were played with wooden rackets and hand-sewn balls, and the courts were meticulously rolled and maintained grass surfaces.

Over time, interest in croquet began to wane, and by the end of 1882, play had ceased entirely, prompting the removal of “Croquet” from the Club’s title. In 1896, croquet players were invited to return, and by 1899, the Club Championship was reinstated, leading to the restoration of croquet in the Club’s name. However, the revival was short-lived. Following the 1904 Championship, interest declined once more, though the Club retained its full title: the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club as a nod to its origins.

The turn of the century saw Wimbledon grow rapidly in reputation:

• Ladies’ Singles and Gentlemen’s Doubles events were added in 1884.
• The Ladies’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles followed later, added in 1913.
• The tournament became an international event, drawing competitors from abroad, especially after players like the Doherty brothers (Laurie and Reggie) dominated the early years.

However, the format was different from modern-day tournaments. Wimbledon used a Challenge Round system (1878–1921), where the previous year’s champion automatically qualified for the final.

The tournament was not held for four consecutive years due to World War I: 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918

• The war began in 1914, but the 1914 Championships still took place, concluding just weeks before hostilities escalated.
• Many players, officials, and staff joined the war effort.
• The grounds of the All-England Club were repurposed—for military training and other wartime activities.
• Several former champions, including Anthony Wilding, a four-time winner, were killed in action.

After a break during World War I, Wimbledon resumed in 1919, now without the Challenge Round. Players had to play through the entire tournament.

• This era marked the internationalisation of the game, with stars like Suzanne Lenglen of France captivating audiences with her flamboyance and dominance.
• The “Four Musketeers” of France (Lacoste, Borotra, Cochet, Brugnon) brought further glamour and skill.
• Fred Perry, a British player, won three consecutive titles (1934–36), becoming a national hero.

By this time, the Championships had firmly established themselves as the leading tennis event in the world.

In 1940, Wimbledon was cancelled due to World War II, and the All-England Lawn Tennis Club suffered significant damage during the conflict.

• The 1940 Wimbledon Championships were officially cancelled—the first of six consecutive years (1940–1945) the tournament did not take place due to the war.
• During the London Blitz, a German bomb struck the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Centre Court suffered a direct hit, destroying approximately 1,200 seats in the stadium. The bombing occurred at night, and fortunately, no one was injured, but the damage was significant.
• Although Wimbledon resumed in 1946, the bomb-damaged Centre Court wasn’t fully restored until 1949.

After a hiatus during World War II, Wimbledon resumed in 1946 and gradually modernised:

• The 1950s and 1960s saw the rise of players like Althea Gibson (the first Black champion in 1957) and ‘Rocket’ Rod Laver, who won two calendar Grand Slams.
• Wimbledon, like all major tournaments, remained an amateur-only event, a contentious issue as many top players turned professional and were excluded.

In 1968, Wimbledon entered the Open Era, allowing professional players to compete alongside amateurs.

• Rod Laver won the first Open Wimbledon in 1968.
• The tournament quickly became the jewel of the professional tour, offering prestige and higher prize money.
• The 1970s and 1980s saw intense rivalries: Björn Borg vs. John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova vs. Chris Evert, drawing huge global audiences.
• Martina Navratilova holds the record for most Wimbledon singles titles (9) in the Open Era.
• Roger Federer holds the record for the most Men’s titles at 8.

Wimbledon has grown into a global sporting prestigious specticle, yet it fiercely guards its traditions:

Key Traditions

• Grass courts: The only major still played on natural grass.
• All-white clothing: A strict dress code dating back to Victorian times including the soles of the shoes – breaking this rule costs each player a £10,000 fine.
• Royal patronage: The Royal Box and the presence of British royalty remain iconic, attendees are strictly by invite only.
• Strawberries and cream: A beloved staple for spectators.

• Centre Court roof installed in 2009 at a cost of £80M while the roof on Court 1 cost £90M.
• Hawk-Eye: Introduced in 2006 for line-calling challenges.
• In line with other grand slams, 2025 will see no line judges used for the first time.
• Equal prize money: Implemented in 2007, ensuring parity between men and women.
• Late finishes: Introduced in 2021 to extend play after late afternoon.

• Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams have defined the 21st century.
• Andy Murray broke a 77-year British drought by winning in 2013 and again in 2016.
• The 2020 tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic—the first time since WWI and WWII.

• All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC), and it has a limited and exclusive membership of around 500 people (by private and invitation-only).
• The club is not open to the general public and membership is strictly by invitation or nomination and subject to approval by the club’s committee.
• The public ballot system has been in operation for over 100 years.
• The main grounds feature 18 Championship grass courts, including the iconic Centre Court and No.1 Court, alongside 14 grass practice courts situated in Aorangi Park. During The Championships, an additional 6 temporary grass practice courts are set up on the 3 croquet lawns at the northern end of the site. The southern apex of the grounds also hosts 6 American clay courts and 2 acrylic courts, supporting year-round training and development.
• Qualifying for Wimbledon does not take place at main grounds of the AELTC but rather at the Bank of England Sports Ground in Roehampton, London.
• In 2026, a new expansion project which will create 38 new courts including a new 8000 seat show court by expanding the current ground size from the purchase of the neighbouring golf course. This will bring qualifying back to the main grounds and see more seating for fans of the tournament.

• 375 full members (also called “Members”).
• Around 100 honorary members — typically prominent figures in tennis (e.g., former champions, officials, etc).
• A small number of temporary or junior members.
• All members facilities are housed within Centre Court – during the Championships the seeded players use the members changing rooms while other areas in the building are made available for non-seeded players.

We got to explore the Wimbledon Grounds and Museum with Gaelle from The Other Paths, a travel site that’s all about discovering unique places through a different lens. She’s written a full piece on the visit—so if you’re curious to see more of what the tour is like, including some behind-the-scenes insights, be sure to check it out on The Other Paths article.