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.

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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

Stephen Geary

Stephen Geary

Architect.  He designed the Egyptian Avenue and the Terrace Catacombs in Highgate Cemetery.

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
William Leverton

William Leverton

Architect, builder and surveyor. Churchwarden at St Giles Church in 1800.

Person, Architecture, Politics & Administration, Property

1 memorial
The Royal Hospital Chelsea

The Royal Hospital Chelsea

A retirement and nursing home for British soldiers who are unfit for further duty due to injury or old age. They are popularly known as ‘Chelsea Pensioners’. Founded by King Charles II in 1682 and...

Building, Architecture, Armed Forces, Gardens / Agriculture

6 memorials
James Gibbs

James Gibbs

Architect, pupil of Wren. Born Aberdeen. Died at home in Henrietta Street. Buried at old parish Church of St Marylebone.

Person, Architecture, Scotland

3 memorials
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