Blazer Badges

A castle was added to the crest around 1904. The castle was traditionally believed to be connected with Henry Vlll's second Queen, Anne Boleyn. However, this was not founded on fact, as the castle was indeed a building known as Green Street House and built in 1544, eight years after the execution of Anne Boleyn. A couple of turrets were added to the property two years later "to enhance the beauty of the grounds," and one remained on the Green Street frontage and can often be seen in the background to team group photographs after the Second World War until it was demolished in 1955, a drawing of the turret was also a regular feature on the cover of the club programme between 1921 and 1958.

 

During the 1950s the team players wore club badges with the ‘crossed hammers’ on their playing kits while the ‘Turrets’ were a prominent feature on the club’s official blazer. Both examples shown here depict Bill Robinson the player (1949-1953) and on his retirement wearing the club blazer as Youth Team Manager (1953-1960).

When West Ham were promoted a champions from the old Football League Second Division in 1958 the club unveiled a major revamp to its crest by incorporating both the castle design with turrets and the symbolic crossed hammers.