We have wanted to know the answer to this question for ages – and thanks to a new book by local historian Colin Fisher, we now know the answer!
The Costs of Pleasure (Hobnob Press 2025, available here ) is a fascinating in-depth look at the expenses of a wealthy couple, Jacob and Priscilla Franks, using their cash-book which is held in the London Metropolitan Archives.  The Franks visited Bath for socialising and health benefits on a number of occasions from 1777 to 1808.
Incredibly, we now know that Jacob Franks came to our building, Richard Scrace’s Tennis Court, on Tuesday 25 November 1777 to play tennis, and that it cost him 3 shillings (15p) – around £13 in today’s money.  The Franks also went to the theatre and paid 4 shillings for a ticket, so this is a good comparison.  As well as paying for his session, it cost Jacob one shilling and sixpence (1/6d = 7.5p) for a ‘box’, and 4 shillings and sixpence (4/6d = 22.5p) for ‘gloves’.
The ‘box’ was presumably the spectator seating area and Priscilla or someone else accompanied him to watch.  ‘Gloves’ was a Georgian-period slang term for tips or emoluments (smoothing payments).  It derives from the idea that you gave a waiter, servant, or sedan-chair-man a gratuity sufficient to buy a pair of gloves with.  Reading Colin Fisher’s analysis of the cash-books, it seems that ‘gloves’ had to be paid to every servant or provider of other services, for everything!  My guess is that part of the 4/6d ‘gloves’ went to the Marker, who combined being general manager and tennis coach, explaining the rules of the game and teaching you the basics; the other part of the 4/6d (I think) would have gone to a servant who looked after your clothes in the dressing room and kept the fire going.
We are so excited to know the name of someone who played in the building and the exact date of his visit.  And the court had only opened 8 weeks previously in mid-September, so Jacob was a very early player in Bath.
The Costs of Pleasure is thoroughly recommended: it is a real page-turning read as we follow the Franks on each of their visits to Bath and other resorts.  They were colossally rich; during their first visit to Bath in 1777 (arriving in early November and staying two months), their total expenses were £377.12s.9d (£377.63p) or around £32,500.  This did include travel to and from Bath, renting a house for the duration, their retinue of servants, food, drink and entertainment and, of course, experiencing the healthful thermal waters – but even so, an impressive bill.

We are grateful to Colin Fisher for responding to our questions about Jacob and Priscilla Franks.  Colin gave the annual Michael Cross lecture at the Museum in 2023, ‘Bath Lives/Indian Lives: Bath and the Sub-Continent 18th century to 20th century’.
Ann Cullis
Trustee & Friend June 2025