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

Burnet, Tait and Lorne

Burnet, Tait and Lorne

Architects. The practice comprised John James Burnet, Thomas Smith Tait and Francis Lorne. Their works include the King Edward VII galleries at the British Museum.

Group, Architecture, Scotland

1 memorial
Michelangelo

Michelangelo

Sculptor, painter, architect and poet.

Person, Architecture, Art, Engineering, Poetry, Sculpture, Seriously Famous, Italy

4 memorials
Glasgow School of Art

Glasgow School of Art

Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design. It changed to its current name in 1853. The main building, shown in the picture, in Renfrew Street was designed by Charles Rennie Mackint...

Group, Architecture, Art, Education, Scotland

1 memorial
Charles Heathcote

Charles Heathcote

Architect. Designed many buildings in Manchester- see the Picture source website. Andrew Behan found the photo and has researched this man: Charles Henry Heathcote's birth was registered in the 2n...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
Frank Risdon

Frank Risdon

Architect:, FRIBA, AADip,(Hons). Born Brixton. See Times Obituary.

Person, Architecture

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Vera Brittain

Vera Brittain

Vera Mary Brittain was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire the daughter of Thomas Arthur Brittain (1864-1935) and Edith Mary Brittain (1868-1948). Her father was a paper manufacturer. The 1...

Person, Literature, Peace

2 memorials
Oscar Wilde reclining

Oscar Wilde reclining

WC2, Adelaide Street

Unveiled by Lucian Holland, Wilde's great grandson, who made the unveiling speech.  He was assisted by Stephen Fry who played Oscar in th...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Lieutenant Colonel John By

Lieutenant Colonel John By

Founder of Ottawa, the capital of Canada. Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Engineers. Born Lambeth and baptised in the church of St. Mary-at-Lambeth, August 10, 1779. After a distinguished career ...

Person, Armed Forces, Engineering, Canada

1 memorial
St Bartholomew's Hospital

St Bartholomew's Hospital

Barts was founded in 1123 by Rahere.

Group, Medicine

2 memorials
New River

New River

The so-called New River is actually an aqueduct built 1609 - 1613 from near Ware, Hertfordshire, to Islington to bring fresh water from country springs to the City. It required a 1602 charter from ...

Place, Engineering, Food & Drink

8 memorials