Where in the World is Wimbledon?

This is another post in my continuing “Where in the World” series! This time, we go across The Pond to the jolly UK!

Wimbledon is an ancient suburb of London, in the United Kingdom. I am fascinated with British history. I’ve read dozens of biographies on British monarchs, studied various ancient communities of the British isles (Skara Brae, for one), and have even traced my own genealogy to Eleanor of Aquitaine and her sons.

Wimbledon is most famous for its tennis championships held there. Did you know that the Wimbledon Championships have been held in that city for over a hundred years? The tradition of the sport and of the city are so interesting!

Wimbledon has been inhabited probably since the Iron Age. It was the location of a large manor and was owned by many people; first privately, then the church owned it, then the crown took possession of it sometime around 1398, until after Elizabeth I (she gave it away and it was sold). The invention of modern transportation made the little manor lot into a large village, attracting wealthy merchants. It’s proximity to the heart of London gave it great advantage.

But Wimbledon is known most for it’s famous tennis championship held every year. The first tennis tournament was held in 1877. It wasn’t until the 1920′s that the tournament really got worldwide attention.

I used to watch the Wimbledon championships on television as a young girl. I’d seen the old movie “Little Mo,” about Maureen Connolly, the first woman to win the Grand Slam of Tennis (the championships in Wimbledon, Australia, France, and the U.S.). She was 18 years old! My brothers and I watched the televised Wimbledon Championships during the Billie Jean King days. It was spectacular to watch these power-tennis players contort their arms and legs to smack that tennis ball across the court. It would be quite the thrilling experience to watch such a tournament live. Wimbledon tennis tickets are high-demand items, and it’s no wonder!

Did you know that there are strict etiquette requirements for the Wimbledon games? Many of these requirements have loosened the past five years or so.

The All England Club requires players to wear “almost entirely white” clothing during matches.

Players always bowed or curtsied to the Royal Family seated in the Royal Box upon entering or leaving the Court. This changed in 2003, and bows/curtsies are required only if the Monarch and/or Prince of Wales is attending.

Female players were always addressed with “Ms.” or “Mrs.” and their names on the boards were always in their formal married names. There were no such regulations for the male players.

Strawberries and cream is the traditional snack at Wimbledon.

The first color television broadcast in the UK was of the Wimbledon Championships, on the BBC.

Much like our “Star Wars” movies, fans will line up and stay overnight to get the few precious free tickets into Wimbledon.

(source Wikipedia: The Championships, Wimbeldon)

Other interesting trivia about Wimbledon:

Wimbledon was one of the cities where Martians landed in H.G. Wells novel “The War of the Worlds.”

William Wilberforce, that hero of abolition and much-beloved of my kids, was born in Wimbledon.

Wimbledon, like the rest of the cities of the British Isles, is filled with history and interesting facts! Now you know all about Wimbledon! Tennis, anyone?