Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

The Crystal Palace

I cycled over to the site of the old Crystal Palace in south London to see what had become of it. The Crystal Palace can be considered the first real modern building, and as an exhibition centre was a roaring success, overcoming the controversy surrounding its design and construciton.

View from Front

Crystal Palace Video 1

Crystal Palace Video 2

 Crystal Palace from the front terraces

Lunch at the Crystal Palace

Evening at the Crystal Palace

View to Crystal Palace from the Stadium

View of the Crystal Palace, London

Terraces at Crystal Palace, London, 1985.

Stairways at the Crystal Palace site, Sydenham, London in 1985

The Crystal Palace was a rather startling aparition that appeared in central London, in Hyde Park in the 1800s for the Great Exhibition. Great Grandpa was taken as a small boy to see the Exhibition on Tuesday 2nd May 1865 along with his three of his brothers and his elder sister. Later that year they all went again taking some French visitors with them on Saturday 23rd December 1854

Engraving of the first Crystal Palace in Hyde Park for the Great Exhibtion. Designed in an elegantly sleek way.

The interior of the Crystal Palace for the opening, [could be the second version opening]

The second version of the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, the site in the top photos, minus the far end wing which had already burnt down at this stage.

Crystal Palace from the south west end.