Preserving and promoting the history of ice sports in Durham
For over 50 years, Durham Ice Rink was more than a building. It was a gathering place, a proving-ground, a home. Families, friendships, and futures were made here both on the ice and in the stands. When it closed for good in 1996, it felt like something irreplaceable was lost. But it didn’t vanish completely. It’s in the stories still told, and the memories stored away in lofts.
The ice in Durham may have melted long ago, but ask anyone who was there, and you’ll see it in their face. We had something special here.
Our focus…
Durham Wasps is name that even now, is still synonymous with the best of the best in British Ice Hockey, but it was also so much more than the Wasps. We have been working for the past two years to collect as much information, images and stories as we can about the history of the club going back to the 1940s and we hope to bring much of that to light - including some details, images and stories that have been buried away, unseen for decades.
Ice hockey
Ice skating
While Durham may have been more famous for hockey, over the years the rink produced many top class figure, dance and pairs skaters including at least one World and European champion. Not only that, the Riverside Rink was a place for countless recreational skaters to gather together and socialise - which also deserves be celebrated and remembered as a community hub for the people of Durham.
Although speedskating may have ‘died-out’ as a competitive sport at Durham towards the end of the 1970s, nevertheless, Durham developed some of the country’s top speed-skating talent, with teams competing annually for the ‘Mayor’s Cup’ at Durham going back to time of WW2. We think these stars of Durham’s ice sports heritage should also not be forgotten, and instead, rightly recognised and honoured.
Speed skating
…and you. If you ever regularly went to
Durham Ice Rink, you’re absolutely part of the story too.
The Durham Ice Rink Project
Durham Ice Sports History is an initiative that aims to build on the brilliant work undertaken by CYAN CIC’s ‘Durham Ice Rink' Project’ that began in 2024.
Our aim, moving forward is to continue this important work. To digitally curate, collect and preserve the stories, the memories and artefacts associated with the rich history of ice skating, ice hockey and other ice sports in Durham.
What we aim to work towards...
Creating a digital archive of all things ice-sports
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Bringing the ice rink’s history to life online
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Compiling a complete history of Durham Ice Rink in book form
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Endeavouring to establish a permanent collection for public display
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Historical articles
Profiles
