Building    From 28/4/1923 

Wembley Stadium

Categories: Sport / Games

The first Wembley Stadium, originally known as the Empire Stadium, was opened 28 March 1923 by King George V, in time for the British Empire Exhibition of 1924. The architects were Sir John Simpson and Maxwell Ayrton, and the head engineer Sir Owen Williams.

That stadium was demolished 2002-3. The new stadium, on the same site opened in 2007.

Prior to the Stadium arriving the Wembley Park area had been a sizeable amusement park with facilities for various sports: cricket, football, track running, golf, trotting; and leisure activities: tea pagodas, bandstands, a lake, a variety theatre. Served by the new Wembley Park station, it was officially opened in May 1894, by its instigator Edward Watkin (1819-1901).

Watkins wanted to build a huge tower to rival the Eiffel Tower. This was begun on the site now occupied by the Stadium.  The foundations and the first stage were complete when it was opened to the public in 1896. But it failed to draw the crowds; the marshy ground caused it to tilt; Watkins suffered a stroke. It was demolished in 1904 and the Empire Stadium was built on the site.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Wembley Stadium

Commemorated ati

Sir Owen Williams

Sir Owen Williams, architect & engineer ,1890 - 1969, designed and built ...

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Wembley Lion

{Plaque on the front of the plinth, beneath a drawing of a lion:} The lion wa...

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Wembley Stadium

Creations i

Bobby Moore Bridge

The building in the background of the mural is, of course, the old Wembley St...

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