Fire Destroys the Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was destroyed by fire on November 30, 1936, at its site in south London.
Published · Updated · 1 min read
The Event
The Crystal Palace was destroyed by fire on November 30, 1936, at its site in south London. The immense structure had originally been built for the Great Exhibition of 1851.
The Wider Story
After the exhibition it had been rebuilt at Sydenham and developed as a place of entertainment and education. It was that later building that burned.
Putting the Event in Perspective
A recreation should not place the 1936 fire in the original Hyde Park location.
Reading the Historical Record
Its loss brought an end to a distinctive Victorian landmark, while the surrounding park and other remnants continued to carry its history.
About the Historical Recreation
The accompanying visual is an illustrative reconstruction: the distant Crystal Palace at Sydenham at night in 1936 with restrained firelight, no people endangered. It is not authentic archival footage, an eyewitness record or additional evidence for the event.
Sources
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