History (borrowed):
The subway under Crystal Palace Parade linked the station directly with the Palace; it consisted of a wide vaulted and tiled chamber resembling a Byzantine crypt and was designed and built by cathedral craftsmen brought over from Italy. The roof was supported by a series of octagonal pillars of red and cream brick interlaced with stone ribs. Steps led down from the main floor of the Palace into a further circulating area, adjacent to the subway.
The subway and adjacent courtyard survived the 1936 fire although the roof of the concourse was destroyed; the subway was used as an air raid shelter during the war. After the war, the station was in a very run down condition, it is Grade II listed although there is currently no public access due to health and safety concerns.
On the nice sunny morning I decided to check out this unique Byzantine style structure. Nice little mooch it was. It does look amazing inside, pillars are really impressive. Shame the place like that is slowly descending into ruin.
Pics here:
and some pics with fisheye lens (first attempt, still have to learn
The subway under Crystal Palace Parade linked the station directly with the Palace; it consisted of a wide vaulted and tiled chamber resembling a Byzantine crypt and was designed and built by cathedral craftsmen brought over from Italy. The roof was supported by a series of octagonal pillars of red and cream brick interlaced with stone ribs. Steps led down from the main floor of the Palace into a further circulating area, adjacent to the subway.
The subway and adjacent courtyard survived the 1936 fire although the roof of the concourse was destroyed; the subway was used as an air raid shelter during the war. After the war, the station was in a very run down condition, it is Grade II listed although there is currently no public access due to health and safety concerns.
On the nice sunny morning I decided to check out this unique Byzantine style structure. Nice little mooch it was. It does look amazing inside, pillars are really impressive. Shame the place like that is slowly descending into ruin.
Pics here:
and some pics with fisheye lens (first attempt, still have to learn
