Exeter Arena

Exeter Arena, formerly known as the Exhibition Fields, is an outdoor sports complex at Whipton Barton in Exeter, Devon.

Exeter Arena
Image of the front of the arena stand, showing the car park and front doors
Entrance to Exeter Arena
Former namesExhibition Fields
AddressExeter
United Kingdom
Coordinates50.7368°N 3.4912°W / 50.7368; -3.4912
OwnerExeter City Council
OperatorExeter Leisure
Website
www.exeterleisure.com/centres/exeter-arena/

History

Early agricultural exhibitions

The land was part of the Whipton Barton farm estate, which was itself a tenant farm of the Poltimore Estate, seat of the Bampfylde family, with the Rewe (spelt Rew in some reports) family being tenants of Whipton Barton for over 300 years.[1]

Rewe used the 'exhibition fields' in 1850, as the location for the Royal Show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, where it was described as having "a deep, red loamy surface soil, with gravelly base".[1]

Following a change of tenancy, in the early 1900s, the fields to the North of the Barton continued to be used for agricultural shows (possibly the same fields used for the RASE show in the 1850s).[2]

In 1909, the 21 acre plot was sold by auction to a local surveyor, Mr JA Lucas, for £6,000.[3]

Shortly after this sale in 1909, the Bath and West Show was held on the site.[4][5]

In 1911, the Daily Mail Circuit of Britain air race had a leg held on Whipton Barton land, using the 'exhibition fields', where competitors came in to land during the 4th Stage from Bristol to Brighton, with special trains bringing spectators from Exeter to Whipton Bridge Halt railway station as early as 2.30 in the morning.[2]

Sale to Exeter City Council

Shortly after World War 2, the Alford sold the exhibition fields to Exeter City Council, becoming Whipton playing fields.

The peripetetic Bath and West Show returned to exhibition fields in 1954,[6] and the following year in 1955, the land became the permanent home to the previously peripatetic Devon county show.[2]

Redevelopment as Exeter Arena

In 1989, after more than 30 years, the county show moved to its new permanent home at Westpoint Arena at Clyst St Mary.[2]

The council then redeveloped the exhibition fields as Exeter Arena.[2]

Facilities

The arena has a track and field arena, with a 400m eight lane running track, as well as field event areas marked out.[7][8]

The Rugby Union club Exeter Saracens RFC also have their clubhouse and playing fields at Exhibition Fields.[9]

References
  1. "Royal Agricultural Society: Twelfth Annual meeting and exhibition". Morning Post. 1850-07-16.
  2. "Exhibition Fields". Exeter Memories.
  3. "Property sale at Exeter". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 2 April 1909.
  4. "Bath and West at Exeter". Western News. 1908-06-19.
  5. ""Bath and West" at Exeter". Western Times. 1909-11-09.
  6. "Unimer at the Bath and West Show". Cornish Guardian. 1954-05-27.
  7. "Exeter Arena Athletics Stadium". Run Track Directory.
  8. "Facilities". Exeter Harriers.
  9. "About". Exeter Saracens RFC.
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