Petworth Real Tennis Court
| Client: | National Trust |
| CA: | Savills |
| QS: | Baqus |
| Engineer: | Hockley & Dawson |
| Value: | £495,562,00 |
| Programme: | 27 weeks |
Pilbeam were engaged by the National Trust to provide an extension to the Real Tennis Court on the Petworth House Estate. The facilities are leased by Petworth House Tennis Club from the National Trust and we worked together to construct a new extension to pro-vide a clubroom, kitchen and accessible changing room facilities.
This significant building is located in a sensitive loca-tion and the single storey extension required a mix of traditional and modern building techniques and mate-rials, including a zinc roof; piled foundations; lime ren-der and all lime mortars; reclaimed brickwork and Oak joinery.
The site was extremely tight, with very restricted access, between Lord & Lady Egremont’s private gardens, the Le-confield Estate Yard and the Tennis Court itself. This re-quired all plant and materials to pass through a 3 metre wide opening in a 3 metre high brickwall.
The building may appear relatively simple, however its design and construction was involved and complex.
“This is a quick personal note (and not on behalf of those at the court with whom your company has been dealing) Just to say that Tricia and I were able to visit the court on Saturday and see the works which you have carried out. We think that they are superb and would congratulate you and your team. It may be a surprise to you to know that a near neighbour in Hove (who played real tennis for over 30 years till injury called a halt) is a Vice President at Petworth and even contributed to the monies raised to fund your contract. With thanks again and best wishes.”
Brian Ellis Vice President Petworth Real Tennis Club