The precursor of Badminton dates back at least thousand years. In the Far East it was a childrens game and was sometimes played with the feets. In mediaval times it was played with all wooden bats, later were vellum bats of different sizes used. VOLANT was the french name of the game and was often played outdoors. The shuttlecock was played between two partners and the skill was to keep it in the air and count the hits. On one of the battledores still to be seen at Badminton House is written: "Kept up with Geraldine Somerset on Saturday 12th January 1830 to 2117". It may not show a very active sport, but certainly an incredible concentration with a very small racket and a heavy shuttle. From 1877 you can find rackets with vellum on one side and guts on the other, later solely with guts and in many different sizes. As seen on old prints, shuttles could vary in size, weight and shape. Most heavy is one of 28 grammes compared with todays of 5 grammes. John Looraine Baldwin is the man who changed Badminton and Shuttlecock into the sport Badminton. Living only twenty miles from Badminton House, he visited the Duke of Beaufort frequently and the rules were set in 1875-1887. Our Queen Christina played featherball in the Ballhouse built by her near the Royal Palace. She challenged the male members of the court and beat them sometimes. In 1750 there were many famous Ballhouses in Paris and the Raquetmaster was highly estimated for his craftmanship and was paid the same as the colonel in the lifeguard.

---