Beacon Park (Plymouth) is the site of a former rugby union stadium on the north side of the Beacon Park Road in north Plymouth;[1] redeveloped into housing called Albion Drive.[2]
When Devonport Albion merged with Plymouth RFC to become Plymouth Albion R.F.C. they moved into Beacon Park in 1920.[3]
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing started on the 5 May 1928 with racing over 525 yards behind a trackless hare.[4] The greyhound racing was independent (unaffiliated to a governing body) and whippet racing was also prominent.[5] New management took over during September 1929 and racing sometimes took place twice on one day at 3pm & 5pm.
Racing came to an end on 4 July 1931[6] after plans to transfer the greyhoud racing to a new site in Lipson Vale were put in motion. The new site known as Castle Field would adopt the name Beacon Castle.[7]
Closure
Plymouth Albion moved out in 2003 and the stadium was sold and redeveloped into a housing estate called Barlow Gardens.[8]
The nearby Albion Drive occupies the site of the former Beacon Park reservoir, which was demolished and built on around 2001.