Historedia
Person

Major Walter Clopton Wingfield

Events
2
Episodes
5
Years
1873–1875

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Major Walter Clopton Wingfield, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Walter Clopton Wingfield patents sphairistike

    1873–1874

    Role: Inventor and Patent Holder

    1. December 1873 · Design location unspecifiedDesign of the Hourglass Court

      Wingfield designed an hourglass-shaped tennis court in December 1873 to secure a patent, as rectangular courts were already in use and unpatentable.

    2. Spring 1874 · London marketing contextMarketing of Boxed Sets

      Wingfield began marketing his game in spring 1874, selling boxed sets that included equipment and instructions.

    3. February 1874 · Patent office contextGrant of Temporary Patent

      A temporary patent for the hourglass-shaped court was granted to Wingfield in February 1874.

    4. Date unknown · Naming contextNaming the Game Sphairistikè

      Wingfield named his game Sphairistikè, a Greek term meaning 'pertaining to a ball game,' which was later corrupted to stické.

  2. All England Croquet Club converts a lawn to lawn tennis at Wimbledon

    1875

    Role: Introduced lawn tennis, originally called Sphairistikè

    1. 1875 · Wimbledon groundsLawn Tennis Court Set Aside at Wimbledon

      The All England Croquet Club set aside a lawn for lawn tennis in 1875, reflecting the sport's rising popularity over croquet.

Sources

  1. Walter Clopton Wingfield Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-03
  2. History of tennis Wikipedia
  3. All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-26