Building    From 1854  To 30/11/1936

Crystal Palace

Originally erected in Hyde Park to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. It was on the section south of Rotten Row and east of West Carriage Drive with the mid-point opposite Rutland Gate. The cast-iron and glass building was then taken down and reconstructed, modified and enlarged, in 1854 at Sydenham Hill in what was then known as Penge Park. The area around then became known as Crystal Palace. In 1936 the Palace burnt down and was not rebuilt. What remains are the terraces, the steps and some sphinxes. The BBC reported that the UK's first fatal car accident happened at "Dolphin Terrace" at the Crystal Palace in 1896 but we can't discover exactly where that was.

The distinctive curved roof above the central transept, running north-south, was added to the design of the building to enable several elm trees in Hyde Park to be retained within the building rather than felled. The trees are not there now and were presumably lost to Dutch Elm disease some time 1970-90. (But London does still have elm trees - see the Londonist article and this pdf with map.)

Some good pictures and quotes at: The Library Time Machine.

Caroline's Miscellany on the model of Crystal Palace - in Paris.

Chapter IX of Dorothy Richardson's 1915 'Pilgrimage Volume 1, Backwater' describes a summer evening visit to Crystal Palace with fireworks, a calendar-clock, a winter garden, a concert room, etc.

2025: Londonist's post What's Left From the 1851 Great Exhibition? provides many answers, including the fact that the V&A holds 3,595 items, the museum having been created partly for that very purpose.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Crystal Palace

Commemorated ati

Crystal Palace fatal accident

{Around an illustration of the Crystal Palace:} The grave beneath this yew tr...

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Crystal Palace workmen's grave

Twelve workmen were killed, but we are unable to find out where the other two...

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HMS Crystal Palace

This trophy was originally placed on the old quarter-deck (presumably constru...

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Sir Joseph Paxton - giant bust

The Carrera marble bust is 8ft high.

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Other Subjects

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

Founded by William Morris, Philip Webb and others associated with the Pre-Raphaelites to counteract the highly destructive 'restoration' of medieval buildings being practised by many Victorian arch...

Group, Architecture, Community / Clubs, History

1 memorial
Recycling the nations' railings - WW2

Recycling the nations' railings - WW2

As WW2 wore on, there was an increasing need for metal to make bombs, planes and tanks. To this end, the gates and railings around parks and open spaces were reclaimed as part of the war effort. Li...

Event, Architecture, Property

2 memorials
Alistair David Berkley

Alistair David Berkley

Alistair David Berkley was born on 11 April 1959, the eldest of the three children of John Barrie Berkley (1927-2018) and Jean C. Berkley née Blair (b.1930). His birth was registered in the 2nd qua...

Person, Architecture, Education, Law, Tragedy, Scotland

1 memorial
James Adam

James Adam

Born Edinburgh. Died 13 Albemarle Street. By 1754 had joined the family architectural firm. One of four Adam brothers.

Person, Architecture, Scotland

1 memorial
Vernon Helbing, FRIBA

Vernon Helbing, FRIBA

With the two other architects Sir Herbert Baker and Alexander T Scott, Vernon Helbing built London House, Goodenough College in WC1 in 1972. It is now Grade II listed.

Person, Architecture

1 memorial