Harrow the Birthplace of squash – the famous Harrow School is credited as the birthplace of this racket sport. Read on and learn about the fascinating history behind this sport. In the meantime, do keep in mind that this article was put together by us in the hopes of keeping you updated and informed. If you are on the lookout for a plumber in Harrow, then you know where to look!
Early Days
According to historical sources, the game was developed as an alternative to the game of Rackets. In 1830, a few Rackets players from Harrow decided to play with a punctured ball, and therefore inventing the game. Then the players realised that by playing with a “Squashed” Rackets’ ball, the game allowed for a greater number of possibilities. As a result the variant of Rackets’ with a “Squashed” ball proved so popular that in 1846 Harrow decided to build the first court inside the school grounds. During the early days, there was no international standardisation, and for this reason, there were many variations of rules. One of the earliest references of the sport appears in the 1890’s book “The Badminton Library of Sports and Pastimes” by Eustace Miles.
Boys playing squash at Harrow 1900 In the 1901 edition, Miles reports in his book that the sport is “enjoyed by thousands in England and around the world”. The first professional Squash Championship was held in England in 1920. As years went by, the popularity of the sport grew worldwide, and so did the need for standardisation. However, at the beginning of the 20th Century a court in London’s Bath Club was chosen as the official standard. According to the Squash World Federation, there are currently nearly 50,000 Squash courts around the world. Also there are an estimated 20 million Squash players worldwide.
The Olympics
Despite active lobbying and repeated requests to get squash accepted as an olympic sport, however, to date the bids have been unsuccessful. More interesting stories from Harrow are published on the Local Harrow Plumbing website.