Sea Road, Olympia Skating Rink
Sea Road, Olympia Skating Rink
HER Number
16785
District
S Tyneside
Site Name
Sea Road, Olympia Skating Rink
Place
South Shields
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
Class
Recreational
Site Type: Broad
Sports Building
Site Type: Specific
Skating Rink
General Period
20TH CENTURY
Specific Period
Early 20th Century 1901 to 1932
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Description
Architects were Joseph H Morton & Son, who also designed White City on Northumberland Road, Newcastle. It opened in 1910. Most rinks had closed by 1914 but the Olympia lasted longer because it hosted other sports such as boxing. In 1931, when the rink was renamed the Spa Roller Rink, a Yorkshireman called Arnold Binns broke the world record by roller skating non-stop for 72 hours and 18 minutes. The rink burnt down in January 1932.
Easting
437162
Northing
567574
Grid Reference
NZ437162567574
Sources
2010, Played in Tyne and Wear - Charting the heritage of people at play, p 18