Walthamstow Stadium

Walthamstow Stadium

The front facade in 2005
Location	Chingford Road, London, E4 England
Date opened	15 April 1933
Date closed	16 August 2008
Race type	Greyhound racing

Walthamstow Stadium was a greyhound racing track located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest in north east London (grid reference TQ375913).

In the early part of the 20th century the Myrtle Grove sports ground was built and used by the Walthamstow Grange Football Club from 1908. By 1929 the ground hosted greyhound racing for the first time and was known as the Crooked Billet Greyhound and whippet track; this was an independent track (unaffiliated to a governing body). In 1931 man called William Chandler, a bookmaker by trade, decided to build on the existing flapping track (nickname for independents). Chandler also had shares in the Hackney Wick Stadium.

It cost Chandler £24,000 to buy the site and the famous Art Deco parapet entrance was built in 1932 with the equally famous clock tower and totalisator board being designed by Thomas Edge of Woolwich. The grand official opening was on 15 April 1933 in which the famous aviator Amy Johnson played a part. The Racing Manager was Harry Briggs.

From 1931 to 1943 the stadium underwent three major rebuilds as Chandler strived for the perfect stadium. The kennels and paddock were situated between the third and fourth bends with a veterinary room and trainers room at either end. Between the first and second bends was the Senior Club sandwiched by two stands. The back straight had one large covered stand but the home straight had another Senior Club which was located under the upstairs ballroom and dance band. There were two tea rooms and a wet and dry bar in the main grandstand and sixteen tote buildings. The track was 440 yards in circumference and was described as the slowest and most difficult course in London. The hare was an 'Inside Sumner' and there was an Artesian well near the fourth bend used for watering the track.

On 13 January 1938 that the track raced under National Greyhound Racing Club rules for the first time and in 1941 the stadium introduced its first major competition called 'The Test'. The trainers and greyhounds attached to Walthamstow were situated in kennels to the north called 'The Limes' in Sewardstone Road not far from Epping Forest. Walthamstow were unusual in the fact that they hired several female trainers at the time; a practice attributed to the influence of Frances Chandler (the wife of William's son Charles). Frances was a leading greyhound owner in the industry. Female trainers employed during the period mentioned included Mrs F Deathbridge, Meg Fairbrass, Miss J Griffiths and Mrs B Lark. Wartime champion greyhound Ballynennan Moon won the Stewards Cup and broke the track record in 1942.