FORMATION OF CLUB - 1884
In the minute book of Hamilton Lawn Tennis Club dated 26th March 1884, is recorded in best copper plate handwriting the following: - "In accordance with an advertisement in the "Hamilton Advertiser" of 22nd March, a meeting of Gentlemen favourable to the formation of a Lawn Tennis Club in Hamilton was held in the Commercial Hotel on 26th March."

THIRD TENNIS CLUB IN SCOTLAND
Hamilton Lawn Tennis Club was the third club to be formed in Scotland, the distinction of the first club going to Perth in 1882. Hamilton Lawn Tennis Club was formed a year before the Scottish Lawn Tennis Association and seven years after the All England Tennis Club at Wimbledon.

GRASS COURTS
After the sub-committee had been duly elected, premises had then to be obtained. The sub-committee were instructed to inspect various fields, resulting in the first grass courts being rented from a Mr D Naismith at a field at Auchincampbell.

The rent for the whole field was £12 per annum or £5 for three quarters of an acre, of which the latter was chosen. In the first year of existence the joining fee was £1-1/- for gentlemen and 10/6 for ladies. In 1885 the rent was increased to £10, which was considered too much and the Club decided to move.

ASH COURTS
The Club moved to Hutton Bank, Hamilton, where two ash Courts were constructed and a five-year lease was obtained on the ground. The Lanarkshire weather was also rumoured to have influenced the decision to change to ash!

WEST OF SCOTLAND MEMBERSHIP
At the Annual General Meeting of 30th March 1885, a circular regarding "the proposed West of Scotland Tennis Association" was laid on the table and it was resolved to join the Association as a club.

CLUBHOUSE
In 1886 the club acquired a Clubhouse or Pavilion as it was known as in those days. Around the same time two further courts were laid, making a grand total of four by 1888.

DUKE OF HAMILTON
The minutes of March 1898 show the president of the tennis club to be his grace the Duke of Hamilton.

WOUND UP AND RESURRECTED
The Club wound up in 1902 when the Ground was lost due to the construction of a new road, but thankfully resurrection was almost immediate on a new site. There is an entry in the minutes of 20th May 1902 stating that Ballantyne & Jackson's offer to put the new courts in order for £2 prior to the start of the season, and to keep them in order throughout the season at 4/- per day was accepted. Nets were purchased from the Argyll Rubber Co at 5/6 each.

OWNERSHIP
The title deeds show that these existing courts were purchased in 1922 from the Duke of Hamilton.

WAR STOPS PLAY!
The club closed for the first time in its history between 1942 and 1946 when the courts were covered over to provide a dance floor to entertain the troops during World War II (1939-1945.)

THANKS
Many thanks goes out to Mrs Lorna Hamilton for providing many pieces of research material, without which this in depth insight into the history of the club would not have been possible. Mrs Hamilton is also unique in that she has the distinction of being the first lady to hold the office of President of the West of Scotland Lawn Tennis Association. She is also a past president and current Honorary President of Hamilton Lawn Tennis Club.