What is in The Badminton Museum?
The museum is not just what you see on display at our home in the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes.
As the oldest badminton museum, we have amassed a vast range of objects in our collection, comprising important historical documents (e.g. the minute books of 'The Badminton Association', Badminton Gazettes, programs etc.), books, photographic and video archives, rackets, shuttles, trophies, medals, shirts and player memorabilia. Probably the finest collection in the world.
We do not have space to showcase all of our collection, so in addition to static displays, we have regularly refreshed displays to ensure the museum always has something of interest and relevant to what is going on in the badminton world.
If you have badminton related items of historical importance you would like to donate or loan to the museum, please contact us.
The Badminton Museum is a charity, run by volunteers, but acquiring and preserving items is expensive and time consuming. If you wish to volunteer with the museum please contact us, alternatively, why not make a donation of become a Friend of the Museum?
Badminton Equipment
In addition to the equipment on display, the museum has huge collection of rackets and shuttles - cabinets full of them in fact!
Dating from the earliest battledores (early badminton rackets covered in vellum), wooden rackets made in the 1980s, to examples of the latest rackets, including an example of the current record holder for the fastest smash.
Some on display have been used to win All England titles, others to win World Championship gold.
We have shuttles on display ranging from the earliest examples used in the game of 'battledore and shuttlecock' to examples currently used in the All England Open Badminton Championships.
Come and see how the equipment has changed through the ages.
Trophies and Medals
The museum has a large collection of trophies and medals of historical significance.
The trophy opposite is the mixed doubles trophy awarded at the very first All England in 1899 (photograph by Geoff Hinder).
At the other end of the scale, we have the current All England Open Badminton Championships trophies on display in the museum (when they are not on duty at the All England!).
Players or their families have generously donated or loaned their medals to the museum so they can be enjoyed by the badminton public worldwide.
In addition, we have trophies from international team matches and souvenir programs.
Clothing and Signed Shirts
The museum has examples of clothing from the 1920s on display, along with accessories.
We have signed shirts from the Olympics, England Blazers and Caps, and clothing worn by players in the Olympics and the Paralympics.
Styles have changed and the museum, with it's exhibits and photographic records, provides a valuable resource for research and those interested in how clothing has changed over the years.
Interesting fact: everyone remembers 'Bunny' Austin being the first player to wear shorts at Wimbledon, but did you know it is likely that he was NOT the racket sport trendsetter? It is believed that honour falls to Bill White at the All England Open Badminton Championships (he turned up at one event in dinner jacket and shorts!).
Photographic and Video Archives
The museum has a huge photographic and video archive. The picture opposite is of a badminton party in 1864 - 'A relaxation for the ladies, brought from Europe'.
We have videos converted from cine reels, alongside the current All England Championship finals.
Research
With our historical archive, we are often approached for assistance in researching people, places or associations.
We have every Badminton Gazette digitised and searchable from its first edition in 1907 (costing the princely sum of 2d) to the last edition of 'Courtside' in 2013 (costing £3.00).
In addition, we have meeting minutes from 'The Badminton Association' and a huge archive of photographic evidence, The Badminton Museum is a 'go to' source for badminton enthusiasts, ex-player's families, badminton associations and researchers around the world.
Novelties, Oddities and Commemoratives
The museum has amassed a large number of items associated with the game. Some surprising, like a brass 'skirt lifter', a device used to hold ladies skirts up while they played, to table badminton sets and even a badminton board game.
Alongside these more unusual items, we have gifts of appreciation from other badminton associations, pin badges, commemorative postage stamps and souvenirs from the Olympics and World Championships.
Some of these items are on display, but many we simply do not have space to show in the museum, so we have regularly refreshed displays where we showcase items in the collection but not always on display.
Conservation and Preservation
As well as displaying items of historical interest, the museum has a duty to acquire, protect and preserve the items in our care.
We have fire safes where we secure priceless items, keep backup copies of important documents, digitise archives for research, and constantly source historical items to add to the collection for posterity.
Items sourced go into a holding area for a quarantine period, before being accessioned in to our Collections Management System.
Stringent control is enforced on location of all items, whether in the museum, in storage or out on the road to display at a tournament.
We maintain a 'handling collection' of old rackets where you can pick up a racket and feel what it would have felt like to play in days gone by.
Items are kept to exacting museum standards and labelling conventions, ensuring they are preserved for future generations.
Why not be a part of preserving badminton history by volunteering your skills to help make badminton heritage available to future badminton enthusiasts?
Contact the museum for more details.
