This qualifies as one of those things you don’t know that you don’t know. I knew about London’s Crystal Palace. Until I happened upon The Queen’s London, however, the Alexandra Palace meant nothing to me. The funny thing is, unlike the Crystal Palace, the Alexandra Palace is still there.
“What the Crystal Palace has been to the south, it was thought the Alexandra Palace would prove to the north, of London. The former was built of the materials used for the Exhibition of 1851 ; the latter, of those employed for the Exhibition of 1862. A superb site, north of Hornsey and east of Muswell Hill, was chosen for it, and it was opened in May, 1873. Fourteen days later the building was burnt down; and, Phoenix-like, the present structure rose from its ashes, being finished in just under two years. It is very fine in its way, and contains all manner of courts and a fine concert-hall. The grounds, too, with their ornamental water, are delightful. But for some years now, with the exception of an occasional Short season, the Palace has unfortunately been closed.
—The Queen's London: A Pictorial and Descriptive Record of the Streets, Buildings, Parks, and Scenery of the Great Metropolis in the Fifty-ninth Year of the Reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria 1897*
And so, one thinks, another amazing building lost. But no.
***
This northern rival of the Crystal Palace, finely situated on Muswell Hill, was, after a chequered career, acquired in 1901 for the public use, and is controlled by a board of Trustees representing various local authorities. The grounds, comprising over 160 acres, command fine views of London and the country to the north, and contain a boating lake, cycling track, swimming baths etc. The Great Hall will hold about 14,000 people, and has a fine organ. During summer, attractive concerts and other entertainments are given in the grounds. Adjoining is the Alexandra Park Racecourse.
—A Pictorial and Descriptive Guide to London and Its Environs 1919
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| John Bointon, Alexandra Palace from the Air |
Details about the first fire here. Image of Belgian refugees housed in Palace here.
*My personal copy (couldn’t help myself, once I discovered the book’s existence), from which I scanned the image above, is dated 1896.
Color photograph below, Alexandra Palace from the Air, by by John Bointon, via Wikimedia.org, Creative Commons License.
Clicking on the image will enlarge it. Clicking on the caption will take you to the source, where you can learn more and enlarge images as needed.
One of us -- 
1 comments:
If the history of pleasure palaces of glass and iron was ill-starred, then that went double for Alexandra Palace. Taking no less than eight years to build, the Muswell Hill landmark funded by private investors opened for business in May 1873, with Queen Victoria cutting the ribbon.
Sixteen days later, the entire building burnt to the ground.
After another two years it was ready to open once more. But from re-opening day the weather gods were set against the Alexandra Palace. The Morning Post reported "After the misfortunes which have attended the Alexandra Palace from its birth, it was the hardest of hard luck that the day fixed for the opening of the new building should be the most unfavourable possible.
"It was May Day; but the almost incessant rain, the heavy atmosphere, and the muddy roads and paths suggested November."
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