The+Dean+Grounds+Association

=The Dean Grounds Association Limited=

Company Number: SC001783 Date of Incorporation: 18 October 1888 Contact Details: 6 St Colme Street, Edinburgh EH3 6AD (registered address, though please see below) Operating Details: Active Other names (if known): Function of Company*: Development and sell real estate (7011) Headquarters/Base of Operations Location: The Dean Tennis Club, Edinburgh Area of Operation: Edinburgh


 * Taken from Standard Industrial Classification 2003, as used by Companies House in 2010

Records
Held By: Mr Balfour Thomson, Company Secretary

Scope/type: Minute Book 1938 to current; Share Register 1888 onwards; Title deeds; Some sundry papers.

Conditions governing access/use: please contact Mr Thomson- 36 Inverleith Place, EH3 5QB or 0131 5522949

Related records: Please contact the Dean Tennis and Squash Club about possible historical records

Company History
The Dean Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, (formerly Dean Lawn Tennis Club) which is situated in the heart of Edinburgh was founded in 1884 when six Guarantors acquired the lease of the ground which had been previously used as a dump in Dean Park Crescent. The Guarantors were AW Black, JP Bannerman, Dr S Keith, WSC Shaw, W Whyte and WA Wyse. Two courts were originally laid out and at the end of the season in 1888 the Guarantors decided, in view of pending building operations which threatened to put an end to the Club, that a limited liability company be formed which was called the Dean Grounds Association Limited. For this company 250 shares of £10 were issued, mainly being purchased by the surrounding neighbours on the condition that noone could own more than ten shares per head.

The site was purchased at a cost of £1,800 and a further two courts were laid out. At one end of the ground a handsome two-storey building built by Mackenzie & Moncur was erected which provided an ideal gallery for spectators as well as changing rooms and other facilites. It was decided at this stage that the Club should be managed by a Committee and that the ground should be leased from the Dean Grounds Association Ltd. and this arrangement still exists to-day. The new Club was officially opened on the 27th April 1889 by Archibald Hewat, Chairman of the Board of Directors. The first Committee and Office-Bearers were elected; the first President was Dr RC Maclagan who held that office for 20 years until his death in 1919. The minimum rent to the Dean Grounds Association was £52 plus any surplus each year.

The Dean Grounds Association still functions as a legal entity owning the land of the club, though its operations are extremely infrequent. Most of the shareholders have died or disappeared (only 40 shares can be accounted for), and the solitary transactions involving the company are the rent paid by the club (currently £60).

With thanks and acknowledgement to Mr Thomson for his help and support with this entry.