Origins of the Sport of Badminton
e: Comments on the Indian letters
Two last items follow: The Field October 18th 1873
BADMINTON UNDER COVER
SIR, - I have read with much interest Major Forbes’ account and rules of the game of Badminton. Other owners of country houses in a wet climate, like myself, have no doubt felt that a game with plenty of exercise for ladies and gentlemen, that could be played under cover, would be a great acquisition. Any of your readers would confer a great benefit if they could tell us if Badminton is ever played under cover, and also of any other suitable game that would meet our wants? A flat even floor, cement or paving, 30 ft by 40 ft, protected by a roof and open all round the sides, could be built at a cost of less than £100. Under such a protection from rain, many an hour on a wet day might be spent by one’s guests in healthy exercise, and with much pleasure and enjoyment . A HOST
If HOST had ever played Badminton out of doors in England he would know that the outdoor game is far more often spoiled by even a moderate wind than by rain.
It is interesting that no reply to this or the earlier query came from Badminton House, where the game is supposed by some to have originated indoors.
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Now, another letter from The Field 8 November 1873
THE GAME OF BADMINTON: - Let me propose that the above excellent game be called “Ladies’ Tennis” . It is an adaptation of the game of tennis, and has much more affinity to it than to rackets. To call the game Badminton is to usurp the name of a cooling and very popular beverage, not at all appropriate to this game. J.R.H.C
An enigmatic item. The reference as earlier must be to Real or Royal Tennis, not to lawn tennis which had not yet become generally known. One wonders whether this item was not in fact a subtle advertisement for the cooling drink! Why it should be inappropriate to Badminton is a bit of a mystery - perhaps it was an allusion to the leisurely manner in which it was played then.
This concluded the initial flurry of correspondence about Badminton. Although the original reply from JHFW mentioned playing indoors, we have learned that at this time the game was being played outdoors in at least three different places in India, with well-established rules in each area. It should be remembered that Simla and Murree in the Western Hills, Nagpore in the centre and Calcutta in the East, were about a thousand miles apart, so it is not surprising that the rules differ.
It seems likely that there was some common origin, given the similarity between the sets of rules. It is also clear that it was considered an entertainment mainly for ladies (who, let’s face it, had little else to do in India).
There is no hint as to why it was called Badminton, although the universal use of the capital B makes it highly likely that it derives from Badminton House, the estate of the Duke of Beaufort. It seems probable that the idea of the game came from people staying at Badminton House, who had access to battledores and shuttlecocks.
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