[2] It was first played at the Ashbrooke Sports Club Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England until the tournament ended in 1982.
The men's event was first known as the Durham County Association Championship Cup.
Former winners of the men's singles title included; Roy Allen (1900–01, 1906–10), Cecil John Tindell-Green (1920), Josip Palada (1939), Franjo Punčec (1946), Don Butler (1950), Ramanathan Krishnan (1954–55), Freddie Huber (1957) and Billy Knight (1958) and Kim Warwick (1971).
Previous winners of the women's singles title has included; Lucy Kendal (1901–02), Helen Aitchison (1904–06, 1908), Ruth Watson (1921–22, 1930, 1932–35) Hella Kovac (1938), Vera Mattar (1948), Billie Woodgate (1951), Ann Haydon (1958), Virginia Wade (1966),[6] and Lesley Charles (1971).
[8] The DCLTA administers tournaments today that cover County Durham, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside.