Memorial Grounds
Encyclopedia
Memorial Grounds was the home stadium of east London football club Thames Ironworks
from the beginning of the 1897-98 season, until the end of the 1899-1900 season. The team continued to play at the stadium, under its new name of West Ham United
, until they moved to their current home at the Boleyn Ground
in 1904. The Memorial Grounds stadium was situated in Canning Town
, close to where West Ham station
now stands.
After being evicted from their previous permanent home at Hermit Road
in October 1896, Thames' chairman Arnold Hills
leased a temporary piece of land for the team at Browning Road
, East Ham
. However, the new situation was not ideal, so Hills earmarked a large section of land in Canning Town
for a new stadium to be built upon. The new home cost £
20,000 of Arnold Hills
' own money to build.
The Memorial Grounds was opened on Jubilee Day, 22 June), 1897, to coincide with the sixtieth anniversary of Queen Victoria's coronation
. Aside from a football pitch, the stadium contained a cycle track, a cinder running track, tennis courts and one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in England
. It was said at the time that the grounds were "good enough to stage an English Cup Final."
In November 1897 Arnold Hills
secured an agreement with London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
(LT&SR) to build a station at Manor Road. The LT&SR board approved this in February 1898 and Mowlem's was given the contract to build a four platform station, allowing for the proposed quadrupling of the line. The station was completed in May 1900 but did not open until February 1, 1901 as West Ham
The Guardian
newspaper reported that the Memorial Grounds was the first football ground to stage a boxing match, on 31 July 1909 when Johnny Summers beat Jimmy Britt (now in the Ring Magazine hall of fame
) in the ninth round of a 20-round contest.
On 11 September 1897, in their first game at their new ground, Thames beat Brentford
1-0.
Thames Ironworks F.C.
Thames Ironworks Football Club, the club that later became West Ham United, was founded by Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd owner Arnold Hills and foreman Dave Taylor in 1895. Thames Ironworks took over the tenancy of The Old Castle Swifts' Hermit Road ground in Canning Town until their...
from the beginning of the 1897-98 season, until the end of the 1899-1900 season. The team continued to play at the stadium, under its new name of West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, until they moved to their current home at the Boleyn Ground
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
in 1904. The Memorial Grounds stadium was situated in Canning Town
Canning Town
Canning Town is an area of east London, England. It is part of the London Borough of Newham and is situated in the area of the former London docks on the north side of the River Thames. It is the location of Rathbone Market...
, close to where West Ham station
West Ham station
West Ham station is an interchange station located on the corner of Manor Road and Memorial Avenue in the West Ham neighbourhood of the London Borough of Newham in east London, England. The station is served by London Underground, National Rail and Docklands Light Railway services...
now stands.
After being evicted from their previous permanent home at Hermit Road
Hermit Road
Hermit Road was the first home stadium of London football club Thames Ironworks, the team that would become West Ham United, and was located in Canning Town. Thames had taken over the tenancy of the ground in the summer of 1895 from Old Castle Swifts F.C., who were the first professional football...
in October 1896, Thames' chairman Arnold Hills
Arnold Hills
Arnold Frank Hills was an English businessman, sportsman, philanthropist, and promoter of vegetarianism.Hills was the first President of the London Vegetarian Society and the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club, and also served as President of a London Vegetarian Rambling Club...
leased a temporary piece of land for the team at Browning Road
Browning Road
Browning Road was the home ground of London football club Thames Ironworks, the team that would become West Ham United, towards the end of the 1896-97 season....
, East Ham
East Ham
East Ham is a suburban district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Newham. It is a built-up district located 8 miles east-northeast of Charing Cross...
. However, the new situation was not ideal, so Hills earmarked a large section of land in Canning Town
Canning Town
Canning Town is an area of east London, England. It is part of the London Borough of Newham and is situated in the area of the former London docks on the north side of the River Thames. It is the location of Rathbone Market...
for a new stadium to be built upon. The new home cost £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
20,000 of Arnold Hills
Arnold Hills
Arnold Frank Hills was an English businessman, sportsman, philanthropist, and promoter of vegetarianism.Hills was the first President of the London Vegetarian Society and the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club, and also served as President of a London Vegetarian Rambling Club...
' own money to build.
The Memorial Grounds was opened on Jubilee Day, 22 June), 1897, to coincide with the sixtieth anniversary of Queen Victoria's coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
. Aside from a football pitch, the stadium contained a cycle track, a cinder running track, tennis courts and one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was said at the time that the grounds were "good enough to stage an English Cup Final."
In November 1897 Arnold Hills
Arnold Hills
Arnold Frank Hills was an English businessman, sportsman, philanthropist, and promoter of vegetarianism.Hills was the first President of the London Vegetarian Society and the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club, and also served as President of a London Vegetarian Rambling Club...
secured an agreement with London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway is an English railway line linking Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London with northeast London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway area of southern Essex. It is currently known as the Essex Thameside Route by Network Rail...
(LT&SR) to build a station at Manor Road. The LT&SR board approved this in February 1898 and Mowlem's was given the contract to build a four platform station, allowing for the proposed quadrupling of the line. The station was completed in May 1900 but did not open until February 1, 1901 as West Ham
West Ham station
West Ham station is an interchange station located on the corner of Manor Road and Memorial Avenue in the West Ham neighbourhood of the London Borough of Newham in east London, England. The station is served by London Underground, National Rail and Docklands Light Railway services...
The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper reported that the Memorial Grounds was the first football ground to stage a boxing match, on 31 July 1909 when Johnny Summers beat Jimmy Britt (now in the Ring Magazine hall of fame
Ring Magazine hall of fame
Ring Magazine was established in 1922. In 1954 the magazine established its own Boxing Hall of Fame and inducted 155 members before it was abandoned after the 1987 inductions. Boxing inductions continue through the International Boxing Hall of Fame. 134 members of the old Ring Hall of Fame have...
) in the ninth round of a 20-round contest.
On 11 September 1897, in their first game at their new ground, Thames beat Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
1-0.
See also
- Thames Ironworks F.C.Thames Ironworks F.C.Thames Ironworks Football Club, the club that later became West Ham United, was founded by Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd owner Arnold Hills and foreman Dave Taylor in 1895. Thames Ironworks took over the tenancy of The Old Castle Swifts' Hermit Road ground in Canning Town until their...
- Thames Ironworks F.C. 1897-1898
- Thames Ironworks F.C. 1898-1899
- Thames Ironworks F.C. 1899-1900
- West Ham United F.C.West Ham United F.C.West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...