Tennis, however, offered them a unique opportunity to discover new circles of friends, as well as meet suitable young men in sedate doubles matches. By Edwardian times tennis was a must at garden parties.

Tactics would have favoured today's base-line players: it was considered very bad form to dash to the net and volley or smash. Lobbing was unheard-of, and the ball was to be patted gently back and forth. Ladies were allowed to serve under-arm: if they had made any attempt at over-arm serving they would have knocked off their hats. The tennis authorities had suggested that the ball should be allowed to bounce twice to give the ladies time to get about the court, but the idea was rejected.

Getting it wrong on court could prove a social disaster. E M Delafield tells of a tennis party at a country house: ‘Elderly, but efficient-looking, partner is assigned to me, and we play against the horn-rimmed spectacles and agile young creature in expensive crepe-de-chine. Realise at once that all three play very much better tennis than I do. Still worse, realise that they realise this. Just as we begin, my partner observes gravely that he ought to tell me he is a left-handed player. Cannot imagine what he expects me to do about it, lose my head, and reply madly that That is Splendid. Game proceeds, I serve several double-faults, and elderly partner becomes graver and graver. At beginning of each game he looks at me and repeats score with fearful distinctness, which, as it is never in our favour, entirely unnerves me. At ‘Six-one’ we leave the court and silently seek chairs as far removed from one another as possible.’

Courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection

See a charming illustration of a Victorian doubles tennis match .

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