Latest news with #CrystalPalaceParkTrust
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Crystal Palace Park upgrade to start this month
A £22m project to upgrade Crystal Palace Park is due to begin later this month. The work, which gets under way on 19 May, will see the Grade I listed dinosaurs restored, a replacement visitor centre built, and a dinosaur-themed new playground created. The south-east London park's toilets, two cafes and boat hire will remain open throughout the makeover, which will also see the restoration of its Grade II listed Italian terraces. The park will remain open to all visitors, Crystal Palace Park Trust (CPPT) said, but warned there would footpath redirections, gate and car park closures. CPPT said the "large and complex programme" of works was due to finish in summer 2026. Sustainable drainage systems, new meadows and wildlife friendly shrubs will all form part of the upgrade. CPPT's regeneration updates page said "there will still be lots for you to see, experience, and enjoy during your visit". The 29 Grade I-listed dinosaur sculptures were created between 1853 and 1855 by artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, and sit on an island in the park. The creatures are thought to be the world's first attempt to model extinct animals at life-size, based on fossil remains as evidence. While commonly known as the Crystal Palace dinosaurs, only four are technically dinosaurs with the others being ancient mammals, amphibians, and marine and flying reptiles. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Historic dinosaur models part of £22m park upgrade Missing Crystal Palace 'dinosaur' replaced in park
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
One of England's most iconic parks reveals huge £52million restoration plan with new dinosaur playground and tidal lakes
ONE of London's most historic parks is set to start it's massive £52million renovation this year. Crystal Palace was made famous by it's huge marvel, the Crystal Palace which opened in 1854. 6 6 6 Dubbed the eighth wonder of the world at the time - and even visited by royalty such as Queen Victoria - it sadly burned down in 1936. But the remaining Crystal Palace park has remained popular ever since, and is undergoing a major renovation project. Set to cost £56million, this includes the renovation of the famous dinosaur statues. Along with the restoration of the 30 statues, a new dinosaur-themed playground will also open. The Grade II-listed Italian Terraces will also be restored with new step-free access, along with the Tidal Lakes. A new visitor centre will replace the current, run-down information centre. Better footpaths, more entrances and more lighting is also part of the improvement plans. New meadows and plant areas will be created as well. Starting on May 16, the works are expected to finish next summer. The park will stay open although it has been warned to expect some disruption during the works. Visit the restaurant serving tasty food at affordable prices just steps away from historic Premier League ground The Crystal Palace Park Trust said: "You are likely to notice a difference to your typical visits, with footpath redirections, gate and car park closures. '[But] there will still be lots for you to see, experience, and enjoy during your visit." The 170-year-old park is Grade-I listed and is even home to London's ' Eiffel Tower ' - a transmitting station which can be seen for miles across the city. It has attracted famous people all around the world, especially to the Crystal Palace Bowl with live acts including Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Elton John and The Beach Boys. Visitors can currently make the most of the current attractions including the boating like, where you can rent pedalos or row boats. It also has it's own skatepark, which hosted the first major national skateboarding competition in the UK in 1977. 6 6 Bad weather? The park has it's own museum talking about the history of Crystal Palace. But of course of its most famous attractions it the dinosaur statues, dating back to 1854 and still free to visit. Kids will love the the park farm as well as the hedgerow maze as well. Head there on a Sunday for the weekly Crystal Palace food market too, or one of the two cafes for snacks and drinks throughout the week. And people may not realise that Crystal Palace once had it's own 'underground' system for first class passenger. Crystal Palace Subway, dating back 160 years, reopened to the public last year after a £3.2million restoration. Tourists can visit once a month with tickets going on sale in advance. 6
