May 2008

New Exhibition at Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum

Visitors can now have an up close and personal look at Centre Court at Wimbledon – from its ambitious beginnings in 1921 to the exciting additions taking place – all in the new Raising the Roof: The Creation of Centre Court exhibition at Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.  Opening on 2 June 2008, the past and the future come together in this interactive exhibition.

With so much attention on the recent changes to Centre Court, visitors can delve deeper into its history through the original watercolour drawings and blueprints signed by the architect, Charles Stanley Peach.  Over a hundred drawings were kept tightly rolled since 1954, and have been flattened and repaired for this display. 

This unique collection also provides profound insight into what the future holds for Centre Court. Other highlights of the exhibition are:

• A time lapse film illustrating how the Centre Court has evolved over the course of the current roof project
  
  
• The architect’s model of the new developments of Centre Court including the retractable roof which will be in place by 2009
  
  
• A film on how the roof will operate and interactive display showing the materials from which the roof will be constructed
  
  
• Examples of the famous Wimbledon grass for visitors to feel
  as well as a cross-section display showing what lies underneath the grass of Centre Court
  
  
• Cushioned wicker chairs from the Royal Box and the new wider seats for visitors to try put before they are in place for spectators at the 2009 Championships

Ashley Jones, Commercial Manager of the Museum commented, "This exhibit will enhance the experience for our visitors by allowing them not only to step into history, but also providing them with an opportunity to see what the future holds for Wimbledon."

Reopened in April 2006, WLTM is the culmination of a five year multi-million pound relocation, redesign and refurbishment. Recently shortlisted for the European Museum of the Year Award,  WLTM combines state-of-the-art interactive touch screens with its unparalleled collection of traditional and contemporary tennis memorabilia, all exploring the story of the game and the Wimbledon Championships in a vibrant and entertaining way. 

An official venue for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wimbledon hosts some of the world’s best tennis that is rich in history and quintessentially British.  Supporting this, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum presents the past, present and future of the sport and has clearly set its sights on becoming the ultimate destination for tennis fans around the world.

Raising the Roof: The Creation of Centre Court opens on 2 June 2008 at Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.

Museum opening times and visitor information

Redevelopment work on Centre Court is due to be completed in 2009.