Watering Ham Polo ground

On the Ham United Group (HUG) Annual Architectural Tour 2026 of Ham Polo Club we were told repeatedly of the importance of keeping the horses safe and that includes keeping the ground soft enough which they do using this impressive rain-maker.

The water used for this comes directly from the river, under licence, and we were shown the pump that they use. It was just another example of how well run the whole operation is.

Stables at Ham Polo

The Ham United Group (HUG) Annual Architectural Tour 2026 of Ham Polo Club was a fabulous event where I learned many unexpected things about a place I have walked past hundreds of times. One of those things was that there are around one hundred horses stabled there and this is just one of the blocks of stables where they are kept.

While we there we saw several horses out doing things and behind the scenes it is a busy place. Looking after all those horses are a dozen or so grooms who live on the site.

Arena Polo

Wikipedia tells me, "Outdoor or "field" polo is played on a 300-by-160-yard grass field, while indoor or "arena" polo is played on a smaller 300-by-150-foot dirt arena." and it was on the Ham United Group (HUG) Annual Architectural Tour 2026 that I learned of the existence of Arena Polo and that Ham Polo has this arena in the north-east corner of their grounds.

Former cricket pavilion

We learned a lot about the history of Ham Polo Club and of their current site on the Ham United Group (HUG) Annual Architectural Tour 2026, including that the section of the their ground nearest the river, and behind their club house, used to be a cricket ground and this rather charming pavilion dates from those days.

Polo player

We were given a tour of all of the facilities at Ham Polo Club on the Ham United Group (HUG) Annual Architectural Tour 2026 but we skipped this statue so I have no idea who this is or even if it is somebody specific.

Its placement is rather out of the way and I hope that it about to be moved somewhere more prominent, as it deserves.

Ham Polo Club canopy

This is a closer look at the canopy on top of the Ham Polo Club pavilion. I took this picture simply because I like the construction.

[This is one of the pictures that I took on the Ham United Group (HUG) Annual Architectural Tour 2026]

Ham Polo Club pavilion

Visiting Ham Polo Club had been on my to-do list for decades (and it was only £2 to go when I first had the idea) so I was glad when the Ham United Group (HUG) Annual Architectural Tour 2026 gave me the unmissable opportunity to go. I will be posting a few pictures of it over the next couple of weeks or so, starting with the familiar pavilion which I had previously only seen from the distant Ham Avenues.

Mound and fences

I still have no idea what is going on at Ham Polo but it involves a mound of earth and a lot of fences.

Polo project

It is unclear what all the machinery at Ham Polo was doing but I just like to see big machines in operation. It also raises the anticipation that things may look different once they have finished.

Making movies

There was more filming taking place at Ham House recently and all of the support vehicles were assembled in a corner of the Ham Polo site, next to the horse training field.

It was late in the day when I went past and someone was putting up lights to guide people walking between there and Ham House.

Visitors welcome to Ham Polo

Ham Polo has placed a few signs like this on the border of their site to advise that they are open to various kinds of hospitality business.

It had been my attention for several years to go to one of their play days but I have never managed to do so. When that plan started, a non-member's ticket was only £2 and could be bought on the day but now it is £16 if booked in advance and £26 on the day. I suspect that I will never get to go there now.

View under threat

The proposal to surround all of the Ham Polo site with a 2m high metal fence may have gone away, at least for now, but another proposed fence puts this view from the path alongside Ham House under threat. The plan is to significantly extend the existing sand area (just to the left of this picture) used for practicing and to surround that with a 1.8m high solid fence to stop balls escaping. 

Ham Polo fence

The fence around Ham Polo would not normally warrant much attention but a planning application has bene submitted to replace it so I made a point of capturing a few "before" photos.

For me the two key points are that it is deserves to be replaced and it is currently almost invisible.

Sadly the proposed replacement fence is 2m tall and has close vertical bars so it will be a lot more obtrusive, if it passes Planning in its current form.

I am concerned that a taller and more solid fence will harm the open country feel of the major paths to the south and west of the site.

Helicopters

I was having a coffee and some cake at Ham House when I heard then saw a helicopter approach and then appear to land somewhere just beyond the wall. Soon afterwards, coffee and cake completed, I was walking along the path between Ham House and Ham Polo when I came across these two helicopters.

White buildings at Ham Polo

I love the cluster of bright white buildings at Ham Polo. These include the grandstand, umpire's lofty station, clubhouse and marquee. (Apologies if polo uses other terms for any of these). The imposing Star and Garter building behind shows how close Ham Polo (once part of Ham Common) is to Richmond.

Polo

Walking along the footpath to the east of Ham House gives you views across Ham Polo towards Star and Garter Hill. Occasionally the view includes a polo match in play.

Ham Polo

The Ham Polo field is immediately east of Ham House and while most of it is just a green field the pavilion (on the north side) has a quaint colonial charm.

Ham Polo

Polo practise

Ham Polo field is next to Ham House with a footpath and bridle way between them. This picture was taken from that footpath and shows a polo player practising.