Part of the terraces
Some of the concrete dinosaurs
Part of the terraces
Some of the concrete dinosaurs
Crystal Palace Park in Sydenham, SE20, is situated on the southern part of Sydenham, bordering Norwood, Anerley, and Penge.
The park takes its name from the building that housed the Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park. This was moved to the Sydenham site after the exhibition ended. The palace structure itself was burnt down in 1936 in a massive fire. Today the park houses the National Sports Centre, and also the Crystal Palace TV transmitting tower, one of London's tallest structures at 222m. It is set at the top of a hill, and can be seen from suitable viewpoints from most of London.At the top of the hill and facing south, is the former site of the palace. Massive terraces, walls, and steps mark the location. This area of the park has been neglected, and waiting for a new use for a long time. Within this area now is the mast of the Crystal Palace TV transmitting tower, and some areas that are closed to the public.
There is a small museum alongside the park at the top of Anerley Hill. Gardens can be found nearby by the road junction.
Descent down the hill is is interrupted midway down the slope by the National Sports Centre, which contains a stadium, flats for housing athletes, and other facilities. The National Sports Centre is a built up complex, with a stadium, many covered facilities, and accommodation for athletes, situated in the central part of the park.At the bottom of the hill, is one of Crystal Palace Park's major and best-known attractions, the Dinosaur area, probably the first such ever created. It consists of a number of huge beasts made from reinforced masonry, lurking in vegetation on islands in a lake. This has recently been renovated and restored, together with that part of the park, and is very popular with children.
There is a good collection of trees, many dating from the original 19th century plantings.The park originally had numerous monuments and statues. Few of these remain now. There is however a large bust of Paxton, and a few somewhat vandalised statues by the Italian terraces.
The original Crystal Palace in Hyde Park was always to be a temporary structure, and a new home was always intended. After the Sydenham Hill site was decided on, Joseph Paxton was commissioned to plan the park. He created an impressive park as a setting for the Palace, with wide paths, arrangements of fountains and other water features, and numerous monuments.
The park was well-used as a sports arena. It was the original home of the Crystal Palace Football Club. Many of the early FA cup-final events in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were held there. The current National Athletics Arena was built on the site of the old stadium, in 1964.The palace itself continued to be used for exhibitions and other events, including musical events. They did not however produce the amount of income that would have been necessary for the proper upkeep of the palace. Eventually, the palace burned down in a massive fire, the glow of which was visible as far away as the Channel.
Much of what surround the palace has also gone now, some of it being demolished during the second World War. Currently, plans are being drawn up for a major redesign and redevelopment of the park.The park is closed at night. It is managed by the London Borough of Bromley. Contact the park at 020 8778 9496.