London skatepark becomes first in Europe to gain heritage status

from The Guardian (< click for alternate video)

Rom skatepark in London has become the first skatepark in Europe and only the second in the world to be given heritage status. The Rom, built in Hornchurch, east London, in 1978, was designed by Adrian Rolt and G-Force. It is the best example of a small number of skateparks that survive from the 1970s, according to English Heritage

from The Telegraph

A purpose-built skateboarding park has made history by becoming the first in Europe to be given protected status usually reserved for stately homes.

Since it opened in 1978, Rom Skatepark has seen thousands of skinned knees, and has now been granted Grade II-listed status, ensuring it will be open for years to come - and will see thousands more scrapes.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport granted the skatepark, in Hornchurch, east London, protective status on the advice of English heritage - and is only the second specially protected park in the world.

The park was built by Adrian Rolt and G-Force, leading skatepark designers at the time, who created an intricate system of drops, ramps and jumps, which are still popular today with skaters, BMX-ers and people on scooters.

Heritage Minister Ed Vaizey said: "The Rom was built in the late seventies for the very first skateboarders and is as popular now as it was then.

I visited here in the summer of 1980:



Neil Harding
Romford Skatepark - June 1980

Thanks Simi!