White Horse Bridge

Wembley Stadium station with White Horse Bridge built across it

The White Horse Bridge is the name of the new (2006) footbridge that crosses Wembley Stadium railway station leading up to Wembley Stadium in England. It was designed by Steve Chilton for architects Marks Barfield and engineered by Halcrow.

It is named after a grey (though appearing white in old black-and-white photographs and films) Metropolitan Police horse, named 'Billy', that was used to restore order after the huge numbers of spectators (estimated at 200,000) who turned up to witness the 1923 FA Cup Final spilled onto the pitch before kick off. The game, the first to be held at the old Wembley Stadium was won by Bolton Wanderers, beating West Ham United 2-0

The White Horse Bridge at night

Trivia

In 2005 the naming decision took place in the form of an online poll hosted by BBC Five Live in conjunction with the London Development Agency (who were building the bridge and who had conceived the idea of a public poll), and won from a shortlist of Live Aid bridge (in memory of the 1985 concert held at the stadium), Sir Alf Ramsey (being England's World Cup winning manager), Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst (two of Sir Alf's team).


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    Coordinates: 51°33′15″N 0°17′08″W / 51.554282°N 0.285577°W