The courts and clubhouse were built on the old Prestonfield estate which was known locally as ‘Echobank’ which relates to where the echo from Echo Rock in Holyrood Park could be heard. At the end of the 19th century women still took their sheets down to the Wells o` Wearie at the start of Spring to wash them and then call from Echo Rock to let their family know they were coming home...

It seems the Tennis Club began with an initial meeting in Rosehall Church Hall in May 1927.  By October 1927 a limited company had been formed - the Edinburgh Southern Tennis Company Ltd - to purchase the 'vacant land bounded by Priestfield Road to the north and Kirkhill Road to the east', with an initial capital of £100 in £1 shares.  

The pavilion itself was built between June and July 1928 by the builders A Cowieson and plumbers Morrison & Son.  

In 1947 the site was up for sale - with five courts and a 'suitable pavilion'.  It seemingly didn't sell and by June 1948 the Edinburgh Southern Tennis Company Ltd met to discuss the voluntary winding up of the company.

A few years later the 'Priestfield Road Courts' hosted the final of the Scottish Public Parks Tennis Trophy...

The clubhouse has a veranda looking out over five hard courts allowing members to rest and watch tennis. The central hall is spacious and wood-lined with a small functional kitchen adjacent. There are men’s and women’s changing rooms and wash facilities at either end.

The five tennis courts have gone through a number of changes. Originally, we believe there were two Tarmac courts and three ash courts. Extraordinarily, between two of the lower courts there is the remains of a well and on particularly wet days you can still detect a damp patch which when it is cold becomes an icy patch...! All five courts are now surfaced with a rubbery material to help grip and bounce.

The current lease for the clubhouse and courts is provided by the City of Edinburgh Council and periodically is reviewed. The club itself had to fight to keep the courts as there was a possibility in the 1980s and again in the 1990s that the land would have been sold off to developers for residential flats.

Those battles in the past were won and the PTSA managed to obtain funding from the National Lottery in the 1990s to resurface the courts and restore the clubhouse. There are plans to have lighting which will allow members to play on winter evenings.

The club is very much a community-run club which stresses social tennis. In fact, it is only recently that PTSA entered the East of Scotland Lawn Tennis Association leagues as it valued the local, social and community aspects above team competition. Linked to this is the involvement with local schools – mainly the primary schools of Preston Street and Prestonfield. The club coach has been active with these schools also offers individual and group coaching and training sessions.

Finally, we believe that our club and clubhouse is a real community asset – actively helping to develop a healthy, sporty and community spirit based around tradition and friendship. You would be very welcome to join the club!

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