Rye House Stadium
| Location | Rye House near Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1935 |
Rye House Stadium is a former greyhound racing and current speedway venue in Rye House near Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. It is situated adjacent to the River Lea Navigation.
The name Rye House originates from a collection of medieval buildings on an area known as the Isle of Rye due to the fact that the land was directly next door to the River Lea/Lee and in particular the Lee Navigation. When the stadium was constructed in 1935 it was put next door to Rye House on a spare plot which is where the name for the stadium came from. Rye House had been the family home for the Parr family that included Catherine in the 16th century and later a workhouse and tourist attraction in the 19th century. All that remains today of the original Rye House is the gatehouse found to the north of the stadium.
The stadium was accessed from Rye Road either in an easterly or westerly direction with Hoddesdon to the west and a large sewage works to the east.
The stadium has hosted greyhound racing, speedway and . The stadium has recently been upgraded by the owner, Warren Scott. Next to the stadium is Rye House Kart Circuit which was built on a former site of the speedway track.
The stadium is the home of the Rye House Rockets who currently compete in the British Premier League. The Rye House Cobras were also based here and competed in the National League until 2012.
The stadium was described as being able to hold 4,000 spectators and it was not until 1960 that Gerry Bailey and Jack Carter took over the lease and immediately began to upgrade the facilities moving the greyhound track to the outside of the speedway track to form a 440 yard circumference. Racing was held on Wednesday and Saturday evenings and an 'Inside Sumner' system and photo finish was installed.
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