Polytechnic Stadium (London)
{{Short description|Sports venue in London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{for|Ukraine's Polytechnic Stadium|Polytechnic Stadium (Kremenchuk)}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = The Polytechnic Stadium
| image = File:Poltechnic_Stadium_1930s_grandstand_in_London.jpg
| caption = The 1938 grandstand (Historic England)
| location = Chiswick, London
| coordinates = {{Coord|51.4759|-0.2685|type:landmark_region:GB-HNS|display=inline,title}}
| fullname =
| former_names =
| nickname =
| built =
| opened =
| closed =
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| tenants = Fulham RLFC (1985-1990)
|}}
The Polytechnic Stadium is a sports venue on Hartington Road, Chiswick, London. It is the centre piece of the Quintin Hogg Memorial Grounds (now known as University of Westminster Sports Grounds).{{Cite web | url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1096141 | title=POLYTECHNIC STADIUM, Hounslow - 1096141 | Historic England}}
History
File:The Polytechnic Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 5145903.jpg
File:Polytechnic Stadium Chiswick sign.jpg
In 1888 Quintin Hogg built a boathouse near Chiswick Bridge, which is used at the finish of the university boat race each year.{{Cite web | url=http://www.quintinhoggtrust.org/pdf/QHMF%20QHT%20BOARDS%20ROWING%20RUGBY%20LO_RES.pdf | title=1920 - 2020 A century of Sporting Heritage | website=www.quintinhoggtrust.org}}[http://recordsandarchives.westminster.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/70/2019/05/Chiswick-Research-Guide.pdf Chiswick Research Guide]{{Dead link | date=April 2025 | fix-attempted=yes}} When Hogg died in 1903, an appeal to raise funds for a memorial in his memory took place. The Quintin and Alice Hogg Memorial was built and a piece of land in Chiswick was purchased.{{Cite web|url=http://www.quintinhoggtrust.org/history.html|title = History - Quintin Hogg Trust}} In 1936 plans were drawn up for a sports stadium to be built at the site. The design was undertaken by Joseph Addison, Head of Architecture at Regent Street Polytechnic. The stadium was home to the Polytechnic Harriers athletics club, along with several local clubs and schools. It was also used for international and national competitions as soon as it was built.
In 1938 the sports ground was extended for the stadium to be built by 7.5 acres. The grandstand had a capacity of 658 spectators and contained a restaurant on the first floor. In July 1944 the stadium suffered bomb damage with all the windows blown out and the running track damaged. Behind the stand there is a miniature railway.{{Cite news |last=Hadfield |first=Dave |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-broncos-rocky-route-to-stardom-1090171.html |title=Rugby League: Broncos' rocky route to stardom |date=28 April 1999 |work=The Independent}}
The venue hosted the Women's Amateur Athletic Association Championships in 1947{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19470802/189/0016 |title=Women's A.A.A. Championships |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=2 August 1947 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 December 2024 }} and 1948.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003359/19480627/096/0006 |title=Mrs Jordan keeps title |work=Weekly Dispatch (London) |date=27 June 1948 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 December 2024 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000653/19480626/003/0001 |title=Birmingham Rivals in Close Finish |work=Sports Argus |date=26 June 1948 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 December 2024 }}
From 1938 until 1973 the Polytechnic Marathon finished at the stadium.{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/davehillblog/2016/apr/23/london-marathon-35-years-of-change-in-262-miles | title=London Marathon: 35 years of change in 26.2 miles| newspaper=The Guardian| date=23 April 2016| last1=Hill| first1=Dave}} In the 1963 edition of the marathon a world record was set at the stadium by Leonard Edelen.{{Cite web | url=https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a20832265/recognition-at-last-for-an-overlooked-american-marathoner/ | title=Recognition at Last for an Overlooked American Marathoner| date=9 November 2016}}
Primarily a track and field athletics venue, it hosted the field hockey preliminaries for the 1948 Summer Olympics.[http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/OR1948.pdf 1948 Summer Olympics official report.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727011947/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/OR1948.pdf |date=27 July 2011 }} p. 46.
The grandstand is now a Grade II listed structure, but is unused due to it not being able to meet modern health and safety criteria.{{Cite web | url=http://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/(S(andasi4544gnyd45ywlcb345))/documents/s3299/07%20Quintin%20Hogg.pdf | title=Quintin Hogg memorial ground (listed building consent) | website=democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk}}
It was the home stadium of rugby league team Fulham RLFC (now the London Broncos) between 1985 and 1990.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Cite book
| last1 = Farrar
| first1 = Dave
| authorlink = Dave Farrar
| last2 = Lush
| first2 = Peter
| title = From Fulham to Wembley
| publisher = London Leagues Publications Ltd
| location = London
| year = 2000
| pages = 231–232
| isbn = 0-9526064-4-5 }}
- [http://www.runtrackdir.com/details.asp?track=london-ch Polytechnic Stadium]
- [https://www.britishpathe.com/video/behind-the-game-chiswick Video of Olympic athletics trials at the stadium]
- [https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVAEA2CW7IRLG4JJ7X3129X3UG5M-MARATHON-RACE-FROM-WINDSOR-TO-CHISWICK/query/Chiswick Video of Windsor to Chiswick Marathon in 1950]
- [https://www.britishpathe.com/video/world-record-marathon-1/query/Chiswick Jim Peters Marathon World Record]
{{London Broncos}}
{{1948 Summer Olympic venues}}
{{Olympic venues field hockey}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Polytechnic Stadium, The}}
Category:Venues of the 1948 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic field hockey venues
Category:Defunct rugby league venues in England