Wilton`s Salisbury

The Racquet of the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Sports Club

Manuf.: Wilton Sports, Salisbury (Wiltshire, UK)

Model: Salisbury Club

Spec.: Solid wood, convex wedge

Year: 1895

(documented or estimated)

Background facts:

Wilton is a town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It lies approximately three miles west of the city of Salisbury and served as the county town of Wiltshire until 1889. The town has documented historical roots reaching back to the Anglo-Saxon period.

Provenance information is provided by the previous owner, Tom Shield, who stated that the racquet was owned by his grandfather. According to this account, the racquet was regularly used for play in the park of Wilton House, near Salisbury, indicating local recreational use within a private estate environment.

The racquet was sold in Salisbury, United Kingdom, by Wilton Sports. It was marketed under the retailer’s own brand name, a common practice among regional sporting goods dealers in England during the late nineteenth century.