You might expect a blog entry about badminton to describe all of the sport’s history and rules of play, but it’s really far more interesting than that.
Fans of the thrilling sport of badminton owe their thanks to the Beaufort family of the seventeenth century who resided at Badminton House, here in the UK. The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and their children popularised the sport of badminton in the mid nineteenth century; though they can’t be credited with inventing the sport since variations of the game, in more basic forms, had existed many years prior to this.
A BBC Sport article details the history of the badminton explaining: “In 1873 the sport made its way back to England and gained its current title after guests at a Badminton House lawn party held by the Duke of Beaufort introduced it to their friends as “the Badminton game””. However, the word badminton first appeared in English print in 1863 when the Cornhill Magazine wrote: “If the weather be such as to induce you to remain within doors, your co-operation will be sought for a game at pool, badminton (which is battledore and shuttlecock played with sides, across a string suspended some five feet from the ground), and similar amusements”—the sport must have already been popular before this lawn party took place.
Nevertheless, people had a lot of fun playing the exciting sport of badminton at Badminton House, along with various hunting activities. And it’s proof, once again, that we British can invent (or popularise) a sport and then not be very good at it professionally…at all.
Badminton House is stunning example of a Grade I listed building, set in beautiful grounds. Parts of the house were even used as film locations for the films Remains of the Day, Pearl Harbor and 28 Days Later.
We may not be very good at sport…at all…, but Badminton House and the UK’s other historical buildings are proof that we are pretty good at creating some jaw dropping scenery and locations, and they are always full of interesting tales to tell.
