Black Lion Leisure Centre

The Black Lion Leisure Centre officially opened on 14 December 1973 by Sir Roger Bannister, ^[3] who is best known for being the first person to run a sub-four-minute mile. ^[4] The centre was designed to meet the growing demand for recreational facilities in the area and initially featured a swimming pool, ^[5] gymnasium, ^[6] and sports hall. ^[7] The first lengths of the pool were swum by three local swimmers: eight-year-old Paul Hardy, 18-year-old Janet Bowles, and 78-year-old Bert Bishop, a member of Gillingham Swimming Club. ^[8] The opening weekend saw 1,705 swimmers visit the new facility, and thousands more would use the pool in the years to follow. ^[9]

The development of the centre dates back to 1955, ^[10] when it was first proposed by the three councils, including Gillingham Borough Council, that preceded Medway Council. ^{[11] [12]} In 1963, the possibility of using Black Lion Field for the project was raised, ^[13] but it took another decade before the idea became reality. ^[14] In 1979, the centre expanded ^[15] with the addition of a sports hall, ^[16] squash courts, ^[17] a snooker room, ^[18] and a gym, ^[19] officially opened by The Duke of Kent ^[20]

During the 1980s, the centre hosted high-profile events, including the Norwich Union Grand Prix table tennis championship, the Butterfly Grand Prix, ^[21] the English Closed Table Tennis Championships, and performances by the Royal Shakespeare Company, including Richard III . This period also saw visits from notable athletes such as snooker's Steve Davis, badminton's Gillian Gilks and Mike Tredgett, and table tennis champion Jill Hammersley. ^[9]

The 1990s saw further development with improvements to gym facilities and the addition of popular events like archery. By 1993/1994, the centre had attracted 487,598 visits. It also worked in partnership with the Sports Development Team to deliver the Sportex Festival, with Sportex 95 being the most successful, drawing a visit from England international footballer Trevor Brooking. ^[9]

In 2007, Medway Council announced a major redevelopment programme that included the construction of an Olympic-standard athletics track, ^[22] larger sports halls, a judo centre, and new gym facilities. ^[23] The expansion was completed in 2010, ^[24] and in 2011, the facility was officially renamed Medway Park Sports Centre. ^[25] It was opened by HRH Princess Anne, who also unveiled a commemorative plaque at the venue. ^[26] Medway Park became a training site for 13 Olympic ^[27] and 8 Paralympic sports in the lead-up to the 2012 London Olympics. ^[28] It has since hosted international competitions such as the Modern Pentathlon World Cup, ^[29] European Modern Pentathlon Championships, ^{[30] [31] [28]} and the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup. ^{[32] [33] [34]}

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Medway Park played a vital role in the local community, first becoming an emergency shopping hub and later serving as the largest local COVID Test Centre. ^[35] Since the lifting of COVID restrictions, the centre has hosted the International Dance Championship ^[36] and continues to host world-class events like the National Army Sapper Games, the David Ward Hunt Cup International Trampoline Championship, ^[37] and the World Indoor Archery Championships. ^{[38] [39] [40] [9]}

War Memorial

Adjacent to the main entrance of Medway Park stands the Gillingham War Memorial, a Grade II listed monument commemorating the residents of the former Borough of Gillingham who died in the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Korean War. Originally unveiled on 20 July 1924 at the Mill Road junction, it was relocated to its present site in the early 1970s to improve safety and accessibility. In 2012, as part of the wider redevelopment of Medway Park, ^[41] the memorial's surroundings were enhanced with new paving, seating, and landscaping. ^[42]

History

Black Lion Skatepark opened during in August 1978. ^[44] The skatepark was designed by Adrian Rolt’s G-Force team and built by Skate Park Construction Ltd). ^[45] The summer of 1977 saw the first UK skatepark (Skate City, London) and by 1978 dozens of concrete parks were built across Britain. Black Lion was among the last of the early wave (earlier examples included Brighton’s Barn, Romford’s Rom, Harrow’s Solid Surf). The peak popularity is illustrated by the fact that in 1977 “skateboards [were] the most popular Christmas present in Britain”​.

However, the craze soon faltered. Skateboarding “went underground” by 1979, ^[46] and many parks closed. Just as skateboarding waned, the BMX bicycle movement surged ^[47] in the early 1980s. ^[47]

By mid-1980s the Black Lion benefited from a substantial upgrade. In 1985, the Gillingham council (by then Medway District Council) commissioned concrete resurfacing to unify the park’s bowls. ^[48] The separate modules were joined with concrete ramps between them, smoothing transitions. This made the multi-bowl layout flow as a single course. The renovation coincided with renewed staffing: marshals were rehired (though insurance costs were noted as a concern). ^[49] Riders remember this period as a “good time” for the park, with busy sessions under better conditions.

Closure

Despite an approved plan in 1987 to build a new expanded skatepark and shop on the site, the Black Lion suddenly closed in late 1987. According to eyewitness accounts, on 2 December 1987 lorries arrived and filled the park with rubble, obliterating the concrete ramps. ^[50] This action - carried out by the local council – effectively ended the skatepark. Remarkably, no official record of this decision appears in the council minutes. ^[51] Local researcher Rikard Österlund notes: “I spent a couple of days looking through the minutes…there’s nothing about [it] being permanently closed or backfilled”​ ^[52]

Reasons and controversy

No public justification was given at the time, leading to controversy. In 1987 the council reportedly cited “health and safety concerns” as a reason to close the park, ^[53] but this is disputed. Anecdotal accounts suggest personal politics played a role: a local councillor who lived near the park allegedly objected to the noise and youth gatherings, which “sealed the fate” of the park. ^[54] In any case, the closure was abrupt and unexplained in official channels. It left many in the community feeling that a valued amenity was lost without democratic discussion.

Legacy and commemoration

In recent years the Black Lion has gained renewed interest as a piece of heritage:

• Oral histories & research: Photographer Rikard Österlund (a Medway resident) spearheaded a project to document the park’s history. His work – funded by a Heritage Place grant – involved interviewing former riders and collecting archival photos. ^[55] Österlund organized exhibitions of vintage photos (first at Intra Arts, Rochester in 2021) and a larger event in April 2025 at MidKent College (GlassBox Theatre) to celebrate the park’s legacy. ^{[56] [57]}
• Petitions & campaigns: In 2016 a petition on change.org to “dig up and repair” the Black Lion attracted 968 supporters (nearly 1,000), showing strong public nostalgia. Supporters recalled “spending [their] teenage years skating the park every day,” and credited it with keeping youth “out of trouble”. ^[58] (An earlier 2015 e-petition to Medway Council failed to gather any signatures, indicating limited official traction.) The 2016 campaign did not lead to excavation but raised awareness.
• Social media & community groups: Facebook and Instagram communities (e.g. “Gillingham Skatepark Project”) and local bloggers have highlighted Black Lion’s history. Images circulate online of the park’s neon-curved bowls and the riders who loved it. The story of Black Lion is often cited as cautionary emblem – its loss is still lamented by Medway skateboarders.
• Exhibitions: Photos from the Read & Destroy Archive (by Ian Dobbie) and others have been shown to new audiences. A recent exhibition at Analogue Music in Rochester (Spring 2025) presented period BMX bikes and skateboards from the era, further marking the skatepark’s cultural impact. ^[59]

These modern efforts – talks, petitions, art shows – frame Black Lion as local heritage. Österlund emphasizes that for skaters it was a “safe haven” and “second home”​. ^[60] University of London urban historian Iain Borden has even noted that 1970s British skateparks like Black Lion are an important strand of youth culture history.

Car

• Parking: Medway Park has a pay and display car park for general use. An overflow car park is also available to accommodate additional vehicles when necessary. ^[62] Additionally, visitors can access free parking by entering their number plate details on an onscreen boarding tablet inside the centre. This allows customers to park for free during their visit, a service that is commonly used by patrons. The car park includes 10 spaces for disabled parking. ^[63]

Cycling

• Cycling Access: Medway Park is accessible by bicycle, with bike racks provided for secure parking. There are cycling routes in the surrounding area, facilitating access to the venue by bike.

Walking

• Pedestrian Access: Medway Park is within walking distance of several residential and commercial areas in Gillingham. The centre is connected by local pedestrian routes, making it easily accessible on foot from locations such as Gillingham town centre and Gillingham railway station.