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New Street Signs Honour the Hammers
There's something new of interest to any speedway fans venturing into the E16 area of London. Newham council have recently replaced a number of their street signs, including those on the roads that stand on the site of the old Custom House stadium, former home of the West Ham Hammers. The streets in that area were named after speedway icons, small consolation to the fans that lost their club, but at least a lasting legacy of sorts.
Robert Rogers, a keen Hammers fan, made us aware of the new signage. He spotted that the replacement signs include brief biographical information on those the streets were named after. This is part of an excellent new initiative by Newham Council, where signs are replaced they will include details of the original inspiration from the street name.
You can see from the state of the previous sign why these particular ones have been replaced.
The signs on the estate now read as follows:
ATKINSON ROAD
Arthur Atkinson Speedway Champion who rode for West Ham Hammers at a stadium that stood on this site
CROOMBS RD
Tommy Croombs (1906-1980) Speedway Champion who rode for West Ham Hammers at the stadium that stood on this site
HOSKINS CLOSE
Johnnie Hoskins (1892-1987) Inventor of Speedway who promoted racing at West Ham Stadium that stood on this site
LAWSON CLOSE
Aub Lawson (1914-1977) Speedway Champion who rode for West Ham Hammers at the stadium that stood on this site
WILKINSON RD
Arthur "Bluey" Wilkinson (1911-1940) World Speedway Champion (1938) who rode for West Ham Hammers at the stadium that stood on this site
YOUNG RD
Jack Young (1925-1987) World Speedway Champion (1951, 1952) who rode for West Ham Hammers at a stadium that stood on this site
In addition to the street signs, there's also a plaque on the wall to mark the location of the track.
Pictures courtesy of Robert Rogers
This article was first published on 31st October 2016
"London Burgh of Newham deserve to be congratulated on their initiative in replacing street signs and erecting the plaque giving information about West Ham stadium. It is just a pity the Council website has no way I can see for we speedway fans to say "well done". Maybe speedway could celebrate its centenary by trying to secure similar plaques on the site of all known speedway venues in the UK. "
"Jim, I have copied your comment and pasted it on the Newham History Society Facebook page, although it has no connection with LBN, one of the gentlemen responsible for getting it done is a Member."
"l have been a West Ham supporter since the early 1960s. Glad to see the local authority have marked the old site with a plaque and named all the World champions who rode for us."