Repairs begin on 'at risk' coastal tennis pavilion

Bramcote Tennis Pavilion in Scarborough was placed on an 'at risk' register last year

Repairs have started on a much-loved former tennis facility after warnings it would not survive another storm.

Built in 1885, Bramcote Tennis Pavilion, in Scarborough, is believed to be one of the earliest surviving lawn tennis buildings in the world, having hosted several top-level tournaments at the end of the 19th Century.

But, the empty Grade II-listed building was placed on an 'at risk' register by The Victorian Society in 2024 amid concerns about its condition.

Now, however, the work has started on the pavilion in an effort to preserve it, according to the group.

Earlier this year, North Yorkshire councillor Rich Maw had warned the site had become dilapidated after being damaged by Storm Darragh in December.

He said it would be a "travesty" if the building, which sits on the site of an athletics track used by Scarborough College, was lost due to a failure to maintain it.

The building's owner confirmed repairs were underway.

Thomas Ollivier, northern conservation adviser at the Victorian Society, said the group and the local community are "very pleased to see that Bramcote Tennis Pavilion is now being looked after the way it has long needed".

He added: "This Grade II building, recognised for its national significance and special interest, is undeniably a jewel of Scarborough's history and important in its role in the formation of lawn tennis."

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