Twin Towers

The Twin Towers once stood beside the original Wembley Stadium in north-west London. Built in 1923 for the British Empire Exhibition, they rose 38 metres above the ground and were made of ferro-concrete with concrete crowns and flagpoles. The towers were meant to be temporary but were kept after Sir James Stevenson asked for them to remain.

They became Grade II listed in 1976 and were widely seen as symbols of English football. For decades they framed the walk from Wembley Park station to the stadium entrance. Their distinctive shape made them one of the most recognised landmarks in the capital.

Over time the towers needed repairs because they had been built as temporary structures. In 2003 they were finally demolished to make way for the new stadium. A memorial piece was placed in Neasden and the flagpoles were taken to a private estate. The foundations of Watkin’s Tower, which had stood on the site earlier, were uncovered during the work.