Wimbledon began in 1877, when the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club added lawn tennis to its identity and held the inaugural Championships. From that first tournament to the 1939 edition, the event expanded its competitions, moved to Church Road and changed its format before the Second World War interrupted play.
This period is a history of a changing institution, not an uninterrupted march toward the modern tournament. Its milestones include new women’s events, the 1922 move from Worple Road and Fred Perry’s 1934 title.
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Wimbledon’s early development
The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club held the first Championships in 1877 and amended its name that year to include lawn tennis. The tournament developed beyond its original form over the following decades. In 1913, ladies’ doubles and mixed doubles received Championship status.
Wimbledon timeline, 1877–1939
| Year or period | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1877 | The inaugural Championships were held, and the club’s name was amended to include lawn tennis. |
| 1913 | Ladies’ doubles and mixed doubles received Championship status. |
| First World War | Four years of Championships were lost. |
| 1922 | The club moved from Worple Road to Church Road, and the Challenge Round was abolished. |
| 1934 | Fred Perry won his first title, ending a quarter-century without a home winner. He won three Championships during this period. |
| 1939 | The Championships were held before the Second World War interruption. Wimbledon did not resume until 1946. |
Why Wimbledon moved to Church Road
In 1922, the club moved from Worple Road to Church Road. The move also marked a change in competitive format: the Challenge Round was abolished. The available official history establishes these milestones but does not provide further detail about the reasons for the move.
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Fred Perry’s pre-war milestone
Fred Perry’s first Championships title came in 1934. It ended a quarter-century without a home winner, and Perry won three Championships in the period covered here.
Wartime interruptions
The First World War led to four years without Championships. The 1939 edition was the last before the Second World War interruption; the official history says Wimbledon returned in 1946.
Further reading and visiting
For a fuller account, the Wimbledon shop lists John Barrett’s Wimbledon: The Official History, fifth edition. The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum describes exhibits on the Championships’ development since 1877; check the official visitor information for current arrangements.
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When did Wimbledon start?
The inaugural Championships were held in 1877 at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club, which amended its name that year to include lawn tennis.
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When did women’s events become part of Wimbledon?
Ladies’ doubles and mixed doubles received Championship status in 1913.
Why did Wimbledon move to Church Road?
The club moved from Worple Road to Church Road in 1922. The official history establishes the date and the related format change but does not establish the detailed reasons for the move.
Who was the first British Wimbledon champion after the long wait?
Fred Perry won his first title in 1934, ending a quarter-century without a home winner.
When did Wimbledon stop for the war?
The First World War cost the Championships four years. The 1939 edition preceded the Second World War interruption, and the tournament resumed in 1946.
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