Herne Hill Velodrome

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The Herne Hill Velodrome is a velodrome or track cycling venue in south London. Built in 1891, it hosted the track cycle racing events in the 1948 Summer Olympics. Since the demolition of the track at Paddington Recreation Ground in 1987 and pending the construction of a new velodrome in Stratford for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Herne Hill is now the only track racing facility in London.

Originally named the London County Grounds,^[1] it takes its modern name from the locality, being situated in a park off Burbage Road, in Herne Hill, part of the London Borough of Southwark.

Unlike a modern Olympic standard velodrome (which will have an inner circumference of 250m, and banking of about 45°), Herne Hill is a shallow concrete bowl measuring approximately 450m in circumference, with the steepest banking being 30°.

1 Modern use
2 Football connections
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Modern use

As the only cycling track in London, a fierce campaign was fought to retain it as a sporting venue during the early 2000s following a dispute between landlords Dulwich Estate and leaseholders Southwark Council. A strong supporter of the campaign was Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins, who first raced, aged eight, at Herne Hill.

Supporters see the velodrome playing a key role in supporting track cyclists from London and surrounding areas in the run-up to the 2012 Summer Olympics.

It hosts regular training sessions for local riders, and, since 1903, has been the venue for a major meeting organised annually by the Southern Counties Cycle Union and held on Good Friday. World Champions in all track cycling disciplines have performed at Good Friday meetings, which during the 1920s and 1930s attracted attendances in excess of 10,000.^[2]

[edit] Football connections

In the centre of the track is a football pitch. The stadium was the home of Crystal Palace F.C. from 1915 until 1918, when the club moved to The Nest, having been forced to move to the velodrome from the Crystal Palace Football Stadium just three years previously, by the military. The record attendance was 49,873.

The Amateur Football Cup Final in 1911, between Bromley and Bishop Auckland, was also held at Herne Hill.^[1]

The stadium should not be confused with the Stade Vélodrome, a football stadium in Marseille.