Sports Stadium Interior. This is the only known photograph of the Sports Stadium interior the day after its closure in October 1965. The previous week had seen the Conservative Party hold their annual conference at the rink.The remaining rink staff can be seen dismantling the huge floodlights from the high roof in preparation for the demolition of the rink. The ice is still there under the floor covering and eventually has to be drained by cutting large channels in the ice to allow it to melt. The next task would be to dismantle miles of copper piping used to freeze the saline solution used for the ice rink. Under the copper piping still remains the original scaffolding and floor that was built over thirty years ago in 1935, when the Swimming Stadium was turned into an ice rink. Under this remains the original swimming pool with portholes (see other images of the demolition under West St) and remains virtually unscathed! The final stage of the demolition was completed in the January of 1966, the "Art Deco" front being the last part of the building to go.

Photo from the private collection of Trevor Chepstow