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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: jimmyspike on Monday 16 February 15 17:51 GMT (UK)
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Can anyone tell me when The Stadium was built and who actually owned it.
can remember the Lanarkshire Eagles Speedway Team and Lanarkshire Police Sports being held there in the 50's.
I know greyhound racing took place there but can only remember the kennels , not actual racing.
North Motherwell also played their games in the "Stady"
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Looks like stadium was built in 1949 and opened as a greyhound venue 1949/50
Check the archives of the Motherwell Times
It is mentioned as being near completion in the 23 Sept 1949 edition
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Mention here of Stadium owner, Bobby Kennedy in the 1970s.
There may have been earlier/later owners too.
www.national-speedway-museum.co.uk/motherwell%20long-track.html
Monica :)
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My grandparents lived in Northfield St, just over from the Stadium and I remember the noise that came from it in the 1950s. I don't think the greyhound racing lasted very long, my grandfather and his brother were greyhound men and they never spoke of having their dogs there, only at Carfin.
I remember the "bing" next to the stadium which must have been from Braidhurst pit I suppose? Or was there a Globe pit?
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The Motherwell Times, Fri 14 Oct 1949 reported the stadium was opening Sat 15 Oct at 2.30 pm for greyhound racing - 8 races
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It had been used prior to that for private trials - greyhounds - and the athletic club had "hanselled" (ie tried/used) the cinder track in the summer.
The newspaper mentions the "Motherwell Stadium Company"
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Lodger,
the "bing" came from Parkneuk Pit..
and was sandwiched between the Stadium and the Caley sheds
can see from OS maps where it was.
made your way from Cassels St to behind Stadium.
http://maps.nls.uk/view/82892586
http://maps.nls.uk/view/82892589
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I'd forgotten about Parkneuk pit. I love those old maps, those old streets all bring back memories of my childhood. (and I'm only 27)
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Aye right Lodger, if you are mid twenties then I am NINE!
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Aye right Lodger! if you are mid twenties the I am nine!!!!!!! But so good to see the old maps. My GG parents, G parents and Mother were all raised around the Muir Street area. In fact tradition continues as my grandchildren attend the local school.
One of my best friends lived in Morton Street and I have very vague memories of some Bike activity around that area but as far as greyhound racing is concerned I would suggest that Carfin would be a better place to look. If memory serves questions have already been asked on this forum re Carfin Dog Racing.
Having looked at the old maps it is so very sad at the amount of industry that has been lost. Motherwell must have a been a hive of activity around 100 years ago
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You've been reading my mail again Maxcam - and you with McCallum blood in you too!
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Changing the subject but the amount of house building that went on post 1945 must have been incredible. My eyes took me across the Calder to Bellshill intrigued by orbiston mains what a large farm that must have been I think I played in its ruins as a boy not realising that is what it was called. On closer inspection there must have another farm very close by on the other side of Bothwellhaugh road. Orbiston mains would have been where Babylon or Mains Place (big clue there) is.
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Changing the subject but the amount of house building that went on post 1945 must have been incredible. My eyes took me across the Calder to Bellshill intrigued by orbiston mains what a large farm that must have been I think I played in its ruins as a boy not realising that is what it was called. On closer inspection there must have another farm very close by on the other side of Bothwellhaugh road. Orbiston mains would have been where Babylon or Mains Place (big clue there) is.
As the bairn of a "single-end" in Orbiston Street (now a Kingdom Hall I believe) I was curious to know the origins of the name Orbiston and hit upon Orbiston House Estate which is probably the ruins you call the large farm. Interestingly it was the site of a little known utopian living experiment in the early 19th century, a community set up by artisans desiring to be self sufficient and self determining. It didnt last long but was a philanthropic motivated cooperative just like the establishment of New Lanark etc.
http://socialist-courier.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/orbiston-new-babylon.html
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I think that the Stadium was owned by the Mulholland family...........I recall that one of the sons was sadly electrocuted there.
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Having grown up off Community Road I am aware of Orbiston Community. It is bug bear of mine that even a mundane town like Bellshill has such rich local history which is ignored in schools. Orbiston mains farm was where the person who started the community lived, it was eventually taken over by the Douglases. You may find this interesting www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/Places/douglaspark.htm
Are you thinking of the gospel Hall on liberty rd when you mention the Kingdom Hall?
Also did you know the pond on bellshill golf course was part of the community and was home of orbiston curling club?
Ps sorry for gate crashing a thread about Motherwell
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Are you thinking of the gospel Hall on liberty rd when you mention the Kingdom Hall?
Also did you know the pond on bellshill golf course was part of the community and was home of orbiston curling club?
Ps sorry for gate crashing a thread about Motherwell
No, it was Orbiston Street off Windmillhill St behind the Rex Cinema up next to the Dalzell Steelworks.
I didn't appreciate the history of the pond in the gc. Probably passed it on the train many times without realising!
I share your pain as local heritage is not preserved for future generations. By the time I left primary school I had (with my class) visited police headquarters, police garage in Motherwell where I saw my first FF (ferguson Formula) 4 wheel drive Ford Zodiac and a Daimler Dart, Fire Station, motherwell Telephone Exchange, Costain Concrete Co (allowed to watch distructive testing of concrete) brickworks (placed my brick with my initials into kiln) farm visits, pithead visits,Ravenscraig, Central SMT coachworks etc. etc. etc. It is all knowledge etched in my brain.( Today " lets watch a video about working in a call centre")
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Sorry thought you meant Orbiston Road in Bellshill,
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Lodger is 27..........................
Not counting the age he was when he retired :P
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Lodger is 27..........................
Not counting the age he was when he retired :P
Plus VAT.....LOL.
Tom
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sticks & stones and all that!
Anyway, as Para Handy would have said "I'm chust four and forty years old, not counting the year I worked in the sawmill". (if Dougie was here he would tell you).
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sticks & stones and all that!
Anyway, as Para Handy would have said "I'm chust four and forty years old, not counting the year I worked in the sawmill". (if Dougie was here he would tell you).
I remember poor Dougie
He died 40 years ago next week
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My grandfather Hugh Biggins was a Director of the Motherwell Speedway Stadium. His nephew also called Hugh Biggins was the physician for the Lanarkshire Eagles speedway team. The Motherwell Times reported in 1950 that Speedway would be coming to Motherwell and that it would be the greatest family sport for the area. I believe it lasted for about 3 or 4 years.