Edgbaston Priory Club

[2] Amongst the winners of this event were Maud Watson, who went on to be the first Ladies' singles champion at Wimbledon in 1884, and the Lowe brothers, Gordon and Arthur, sons of the local MP Sir Francis, both amongst the world's top ten players at their peak.

The Priory had a smaller membership and fewer resources, but maintained a full programme of dozens of weekly fixtures, mostly with other Birmingham and Black Country clubs, and developed its own men's and women's competitions from 1887 onwards.

Two Davis Cup ties were held at Edgbaston Cricket & Lawn Tennis Club in the 1920s, and by the 1930s the Priory's Whitsuntide tournament was attracting stars from around the globe including Grand Slam champions such as Helen Jacobs and Anita Lizana.

After 1945 Edgbaston and the Priory both continued this record of membership growth and high standards of play from both home talent and visitors – both hosted Davis Cup ties and both welcomed Wimbledon winners to their own tournaments – and both planned expansion.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Edgbaston Priory members competed at Wimbledon, most famously Ann Haydon-Jones, the 1969 Ladies' singles champion who opened the club's new centre court named after her in 2013.

Stars of squash such as Jonah Barrington used Edgbaston Priory's facilities both to showcase the game at tournaments including the British Open and the Prodorite, and as members of the club.