Top photo courtesy of a skating fan on Birmingham Forum. Very unique for its time. The beauty brings into the building as seen in below photo. Courtesy is unknown. Lost in history.
Embassy Roller Rink, The (likely) 24 Walford Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, England, UK
Walford Road Sportsdrome (likely) 24 Walford Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, England, UK
Walford Road Sportsdrome (likely) 24 Walford Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, England, UK
This rink was in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom. It was opened in 1911 with a skating area of 32,000 Square Feet according to this newspaper ad that year. From my observation, I see quite strange. Normally rinks are flat on the floor with rest of the floor or lower level by maybe 2 to 3 inches. But this one I looked carefully, I hope it is not a swimming pool converted to a rink! Yes, I am saying that because if you look carefully into the floor, look at the sunlight and how much shadow and light reflex the floor. It is a swimming pool. I know the grainy old Black and White photograph of its day. It was not clear. But I am sure it appeared to be a pool!
Never mind, let's move on. I found this picture in Google Image and then I searched for the name and I found two forums discussing this rink. One of them has photographs of people skating especially a skate team. One of the team members is one of the people who posted the pictures. Wow, He lives a long life.
Someone mentioned it was burned down just a few years ago. Meaning it may have burned down sometimes between 1990 and 2006 according to Birmingham History. I assume it was located by those new homes because someone said that. Many homes in those neighborhood are crowded with townhouses. Remember UK is just merely an archipelago which equals to the size of New England in the United States.
Someone else said there was an Embassy Roller Rink on Stratford Road, Sparkhill, Shirley, Birmingham, UK, it is a few miles away from this Embassy Roller Rink. Apparently that is another rink too to look into.
CORRECTION--
Someone told me there was never another Embassy Roller Rink. ONLY one.
This is the response I received in email from Heather. Yes, her name revealed so that anyone who remembered her can contact through me to her.
Here is what Heather has to say--
Many thanks for coming back to me and I'm pleased I managed to contact you.
Yes I did see the profile on Dead-Rinks and found it very interesting indeed. I'm pretty sure that the query about "another rink on Stratford Road" was not correct. There was just The Embassy Roller Skating Rink in Walford Road. It was indeed the largest rink in Europe we were told and on occasions we had the "elite" German Dance Champions visit us occasionally - I well remember them starring in the opening of the ATV Studios when first broadcasting from Birmingham, when I was a member of the dance team opening the programme [program]. The dance team of about 10 pairs of us practiced for hours under the guidance of Stan Hill who was a top NSA judge and was also a member of the team. We could only practice after evening public sessions had closed but the actual transmission on TV was never seen by any of us as there were no recording devices in those days. I do know that a Canadian man did take a cine film of the event but I don't know what happened to it - I would dearly love to see it of course.
When the speed skaters' club finished their Sunday morning session, the figure and dance club took over the afternoon - it was a time for serious skaters to practice for their NSA medals or for an up and coming competition either within the club or national trophy events around the country. I personally gained NSA Gold dance medal and entered several open cup events around the country with my dance partner Graham Allen until he had to do his National Service.
As you can gather - I am very old - 84 actually but I still have fond memories and pictures of those days of pleasure and exercise.
I'm not good enough on the computer to put information on Facebook but at least I have passed on some information which may be useful.
I would love to hear from anyone left living who remembers Birmingham Roller Skating Club - figure & dance section.
Heather Fearnside nee Benton
In 1950s, wrestling were also scheduled as events. But during World War II, the rink became a munitions program as part of the war effort against Nazism and the Dictatorship.
Whew! that was close because UK had much bombing by the Nazi during the War. Good thing this rink survived and it returned back as a rink when the War was over. The War I mean was World War II.
Was this venue also once called Walford Road Sportsdrome? Good question. From the form, it sounded like they changed name but everyone knew this as The Embassy Roller Rink.
Boxing was another sport featured in mid-Century along with wrestling. Similar to a couple of rinks in New York City that they did the same at those rinks.
A lot of changes happened in around 1967-ish. A new ice rink opened up and Springhill Rink had to switch from ice rink to roller rink because of the new competition and the owners of Springhill realized that Empire Roller Rink was closing down so the switch over was perfect timing. Many skaters from Empire switched to Springhill when Empire closed. But often those same skaters did duel skating- both ice and roller at the same time.
The Interior.
Beautiful Ordinate roller rink complex. Clear coated Maple floor, 32,000 Square Feet! One of the first largest rink in the world. Was largest in Europe. Only Gultip Arena in Latham, NY is World's largest set by Guinness Book of World Record. Beautiful Half-Barrel Arch roof (to compare, look at the New York State Fairgrounds Center of Progress. Very similar design build around the same time) which gave the interior very spacious with Steel-Truss Post on edges of the rink to support while off the rink was under Flat roof section. The rails were Steel-pipes design.
The Exterior.
Very glandular design for this Art-Nouveau style building with Half-Barrel Arch which really gave the D-shape design. Again, similar to the NYS Fairgrounds' Center of Progress. Click here to see what I mean. Sorry that was a Black-and-White photo. It is not as good view I wanted to show. And their website failed to show the entire building picture. You can look it up on Google Map though. It also had two pillars with flags on top. Kind of like a castle-isque appearance which was grand compared to the rest of the building especially on the side. No offense, NYSF CoP even looked better and still standing today as manufacturers' exhitbit building during the NYS Fair which runs 12 to 14 days up to Labor Day/First Monday of September in New York State.
The windows were wrapped around horizonally to match how the roofline dips down to the next roof where the extension was. That part was for snack bar, seating, lockers/coat room, rentals, restrooms, etc.
Still the entrance made it more grand for its style in 1910s.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 32,000 SF (One of largest in world), likely original title holder. Floor: Clear coated Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: Likely 50,000 SF. Built: 1911. Demolished: 2000s or 2010 due to a fire. .
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblock Warehouse Building.
Roof: Half Barrel Arched-Curve.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: 1911 to c. 1967/68.
Reason for Closure: N/A but some said it was fire but majority said they just closed.
Wanted: Information regarding the name Walford Street Sportsdrome. Related? How did the fire burned this down?
Specific dates of open and closed are needed and real reason why closed? When the fire happened?
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Wikipedia - NYS Fairgrounds, Birmingham History 1, Birmingham Forum, Flickr;
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
Never mind, let's move on. I found this picture in Google Image and then I searched for the name and I found two forums discussing this rink. One of them has photographs of people skating especially a skate team. One of the team members is one of the people who posted the pictures. Wow, He lives a long life.
Someone mentioned it was burned down just a few years ago. Meaning it may have burned down sometimes between 1990 and 2006 according to Birmingham History. I assume it was located by those new homes because someone said that. Many homes in those neighborhood are crowded with townhouses. Remember UK is just merely an archipelago which equals to the size of New England in the United States.
Someone else said there was an Embassy Roller Rink on Stratford Road, Sparkhill, Shirley, Birmingham, UK, it is a few miles away from this Embassy Roller Rink. Apparently that is another rink too to look into.
CORRECTION--
Someone told me there was never another Embassy Roller Rink. ONLY one.
This is the response I received in email from Heather. Yes, her name revealed so that anyone who remembered her can contact through me to her.
Here is what Heather has to say--
Many thanks for coming back to me and I'm pleased I managed to contact you.
Yes I did see the profile on Dead-Rinks and found it very interesting indeed. I'm pretty sure that the query about "another rink on Stratford Road" was not correct. There was just The Embassy Roller Skating Rink in Walford Road. It was indeed the largest rink in Europe we were told and on occasions we had the "elite" German Dance Champions visit us occasionally - I well remember them starring in the opening of the ATV Studios when first broadcasting from Birmingham, when I was a member of the dance team opening the programme [program]. The dance team of about 10 pairs of us practiced for hours under the guidance of Stan Hill who was a top NSA judge and was also a member of the team. We could only practice after evening public sessions had closed but the actual transmission on TV was never seen by any of us as there were no recording devices in those days. I do know that a Canadian man did take a cine film of the event but I don't know what happened to it - I would dearly love to see it of course.
When the speed skaters' club finished their Sunday morning session, the figure and dance club took over the afternoon - it was a time for serious skaters to practice for their NSA medals or for an up and coming competition either within the club or national trophy events around the country. I personally gained NSA Gold dance medal and entered several open cup events around the country with my dance partner Graham Allen until he had to do his National Service.
As you can gather - I am very old - 84 actually but I still have fond memories and pictures of those days of pleasure and exercise.
I'm not good enough on the computer to put information on Facebook but at least I have passed on some information which may be useful.
I would love to hear from anyone left living who remembers Birmingham Roller Skating Club - figure & dance section.
Heather Fearnside nee Benton
In 1950s, wrestling were also scheduled as events. But during World War II, the rink became a munitions program as part of the war effort against Nazism and the Dictatorship.
Whew! that was close because UK had much bombing by the Nazi during the War. Good thing this rink survived and it returned back as a rink when the War was over. The War I mean was World War II.
Was this venue also once called Walford Road Sportsdrome? Good question. From the form, it sounded like they changed name but everyone knew this as The Embassy Roller Rink.
Boxing was another sport featured in mid-Century along with wrestling. Similar to a couple of rinks in New York City that they did the same at those rinks.
A lot of changes happened in around 1967-ish. A new ice rink opened up and Springhill Rink had to switch from ice rink to roller rink because of the new competition and the owners of Springhill realized that Empire Roller Rink was closing down so the switch over was perfect timing. Many skaters from Empire switched to Springhill when Empire closed. But often those same skaters did duel skating- both ice and roller at the same time.
The Interior.
Beautiful Ordinate roller rink complex. Clear coated Maple floor, 32,000 Square Feet! One of the first largest rink in the world. Was largest in Europe. Only Gultip Arena in Latham, NY is World's largest set by Guinness Book of World Record. Beautiful Half-Barrel Arch roof (to compare, look at the New York State Fairgrounds Center of Progress. Very similar design build around the same time) which gave the interior very spacious with Steel-Truss Post on edges of the rink to support while off the rink was under Flat roof section. The rails were Steel-pipes design.
The Exterior.
Very glandular design for this Art-Nouveau style building with Half-Barrel Arch which really gave the D-shape design. Again, similar to the NYS Fairgrounds' Center of Progress. Click here to see what I mean. Sorry that was a Black-and-White photo. It is not as good view I wanted to show. And their website failed to show the entire building picture. You can look it up on Google Map though. It also had two pillars with flags on top. Kind of like a castle-isque appearance which was grand compared to the rest of the building especially on the side. No offense, NYSF CoP even looked better and still standing today as manufacturers' exhitbit building during the NYS Fair which runs 12 to 14 days up to Labor Day/First Monday of September in New York State.
The windows were wrapped around horizonally to match how the roofline dips down to the next roof where the extension was. That part was for snack bar, seating, lockers/coat room, rentals, restrooms, etc.
Still the entrance made it more grand for its style in 1910s.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 32,000 SF (One of largest in world), likely original title holder. Floor: Clear coated Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: Likely 50,000 SF. Built: 1911. Demolished: 2000s or 2010 due to a fire. .
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblock Warehouse Building.
Roof: Half Barrel Arched-Curve.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: 1911 to c. 1967/68.
Reason for Closure: N/A but some said it was fire but majority said they just closed.
Wanted: Information regarding the name Walford Street Sportsdrome. Related? How did the fire burned this down?
Specific dates of open and closed are needed and real reason why closed? When the fire happened?
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Wikipedia - NYS Fairgrounds, Birmingham History 1, Birmingham Forum, Flickr;
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.