Skating rink in 1911?!

[stanmapstone]

'Skating Rink'? I've looked and there was indeed a skating rink at the time in the town but labourer seems a curious occupation to be carrying out there!

He could have been a "skate boy" who fastened skates on patron's boots at a skating or roller skating rink, with screw clamps, or helping the skate storeman, skate mechanic; who stored the skates in racks; cleaned the skates and repaired them when necessary by inserting new ball bearings, putting on new wheels etc., and issuing the skates to patrons at skating or roller-skating rink, from "A Dictionary of Occupational Terms".  Which town was this?

Stan

[snuttall]

'Skating Rink'? I've looked and there was indeed a skating rink at the time in the town but labourer seems a curious occupation to be carrying out there!

He could have been a "skate boy" who fastened skates on patron's boots at a skating or roller skating rink, with screw clamps, or helping the skate storeman, skate mechanic; who stored the skates in racks; cleaned the skates and repaired them when necessary by inserting new ball bearings, putting on new wheels etc., and issuing the skates to patrons at skating or roller-skating rink, from "A Dictionary of Occupational Terms".  Which town was this?

Stan

Thanks! It was in Blackburn; I've looked and there were two skating rinks the Olympia in the centre and another in the suburb of Witton where this lad actually lived so seems logical! They both only opened around 1909 so must have been a brave new world!

[stanmapstone]

The Olympia was opened on 19th May 1909 as a roller skating rink. It was a short lived venture and closed in November 1911. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/35001

Stan

[deebel]

It would be a roller skating rink, not an Ice Rink.
Stan

This is the OS map of my town in 1911. The ice skating rink had been there many years, also Quoiting, Curling rink, Tennis,Football, Cricket, Rifle Ranges but no Roller Skating.

[stanmapstone]

Which town is that?

Stan

[KGarrad]

Educated guess - Glasgow?

Not many curling rinks in England!

[deebel]

Which town is that?

Stan

Barrhead (south of Glasgow)

[stanmapstone]

REVIVED IN GREAT BRITAIN
Telegraph LONDON, November 26. 1909
The roller skating craze has been largely revived in many parts of Great Britain, and' has afforded employment to as many as 17,000 clerks, attendants, and mechanics.
There was a World Professional Roller Skating Championship held across Britain in February 1909, with heats in ................and Glasgow
http://www.mcjazz.f2s.com/Rinking.htm

A search for "Roller Skating Rinks" in Historical Directories gives many references from 1881, there are none for "Ice Skating Rinks"

Stan

[KGarrad]

From The National Skating Association:

1830
The first English club was formed in London - The Skating Club. It became the Royal Skating Club in 1932.

1876
The London Glaciarium, London's first artificial ice rink, was opened in Chelsea. It was followed by four other, larger Glaciariums. The longest lived was in Southport in Lancashire (1879-1889)

1895
The NSA Headquarters, hitherto Cambridge, moved to Hengler's Circus ( National Skating Palace) in London. The building is now better known as the London Palladium, home to many comedians and Variety shows.

1902
A week of celebrations commemorated the NSA's 21st Year. This included the World Championships held at the circular Niagara rink in York St, Petty France, London.

1908
The Olympic Games were held in London and the NSA organised the first ever skating events at Prince's Skating Club.


So there were ice rinks in London by 1911!