Crystal Palace Subway wins global 'Oscar' for heritage restoration
A newly restored Victorian subway has jointly won a prestigious Museums + Heritage Award.
The Crystal Palace Subway, which is one of the few remaining structures from the Victorian Crystal Palace complex, was announced as the winner of the Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year award at a ceremony in central London on May 15.
The restoration of the subway, which was completed last year, was led by Bromley Council and the Friends of Crystal Palace Subway, with guidance from Historic England.
Crystal Palace Subway in 2018 view from the east (Image: Chris Redgrave/ Historic England Archive) The subway is now back in public use 160 years after it first opened, under the management of the park's new custodian, Crystal Palace Park Trust.
The Crystal Palace Subway jointly won the award with The Landmark Trust's Calverley Old Hall, beating off competition from HMS Victory (National Museum of the Royal Navy), and two National Trust projects - Beatrix Potter's Dolls' House (Hill Top) and the Long Gallery Ceiling Project at Lanhydrock.
The Museums + Heritage Awards are global awards regarded as the 'Oscars' of the heritage sector.
Crystal Palace Subway in 2024- view from east looking into the vaulted underpass (Image: Historic England Archive)
The Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year category highlights the quality of work undertaken on restoration, repair and conservation projects within the UK, and is awarded by Museums + Heritage in partnership with ICON, the Institute of Conservation.
The award's judges called the subway's restoration "a bold, beautifully executed restoration, blending community energy with expert conservation to revive a lost historic space.
"Driven by local passion, it safeguards the past while creating a vibrant future for all."
Councillor Yvonne Bear, executive councillor for renewal, recreation and housing, said: "This is an incredible achievement for all involved and I sincerely thank our partners for helping ensure this special site was restored in a fashion in keeping with its rich history, that is entwined with the international prestige of the Crystal Palace itself.
"Residents can now enjoy this space under the careful watch of Crystal Palace Park Trust, as we press ahead with delivering the wider regeneration plan for the park, aiming to replicate the high standards we have set with the subway restoration."
Jules Hussey, of the Friends of Crystal Palace Subway, said: "The community remains at the heart of the subway: as volunteers, visitors and huge fans of this beautiful hidden site.
"This award recognises the collaboration with Bromley Council, the architects and all the craftspeople involved in this breathtaking restoration, and we are excited by what the future holds for the subway in the hands of Crystal Palace Park Trust."
The £3.5m project was funded jointly from the City of London Strategic Investment Pot, more than £1m from Historic England, and significant local support and individual donations.
Highlights of the project include a new glass roof, reconstructed staircases and the reuse and sourcing of heritage materials to maintain the character of the building.
In its first three months since reopening, the subway, run by Crystal Palace Park Trust, was visited by around 6,000 people, and hosted events from a craft market and pop-up cinema screenings to stand-up comedy and a silent disco.
Victoria Pinnington, chief executive of Crystal Palace Park Trust, said: "Huge thanks to the judges of the Museums + Heritage awards for recognising the efforts of our funders and so many in our community to resurrect the spectacular Crystal Palace Subway.
"We look forward to welcoming visitors to many more events at this special, award-winning place and encourage them to explore the rest of the iconic 200-acre, Grade II* listed Crystal Palace Park as we embark on the next phase of the park's transformational regeneration plan."
The subway restoration is the first phase of the major regeneration of Crystal Palace Park, being delivered by Bromley Council and Crystal Palace Park Trust.
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