CRYSTAL PALACE SUBWAY

LONDON BOROUGH OF BROMLEY

The Crystal Palace Subway is the one of the last remaining survivals of the devastating fire in 1936 that destroyed Paxton’s Great Exhibition structures, relocated from Hyde Park to Sydenham Hill in 1865. The elaborate Subway, designed by Charles Barry Jr. opened in 1865 and provided a direct link for first class passengers from the High Level Station into the exhibition halls.

Our project stabilized and conserved historic brickwork; reconstructed lost features including the staircases and parapet walls; connected new mains power and water supplies, and provided a new roof over the East Courtyard.

There was an almost complete absence of surviving drawings or records, and as a result key architectural features had to be recreated through forensic architectural analysis and interpretation of historic photographs. The design of the roof was a departure from the original arrangement in order to combat issues associated with maintenance, rainwater disposal and unauthorised access: the new roof provides a column free space that makes for more versatile use as a public venue.

The completed project saw the building removed from Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ Register.