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Crystal
Palace Park Crystal Palace Park is one of my
favourite places in south London. Like any other large London park,
there are the usual huge expanses of open (and well kept) grassland, but
the park itself has a lot more to offer. The park was home to the
original Crystal Palace, a building built for the Great Exhibition of
1851. The building was moved from Hyde Park and stayed here until it
burned down. (I still can not work out how a building made from glass
and iron can burn down, though). The only parts of the original palace
left behind are the Italian terraces, various stone steps and walkways,
huge statues and iconic stone lions similar to those found in Trafalgar
Square.
But there's more. There is a tall, iron gated, Victorian maze
constructed from hedges. An outdoor stage where bands play and festivals
are held. There are several lakes. An athletics arena which holds
televised events. A go-cart racing track. A private fishing lake. A cafe
with outdoor seating. A museum. An indoor leisure centre. A
farmers
market is also held here regularly along with fairs, festivals, nature
trails and cycling events. I have never seen a park used so much for so
many things. The list really does go on.
However, my favourite part has to be an example of pure Victorian
hysteria, showmanship and lunacy; otherwise known as The Monsters. Long
before Spielberg's Jurassic Park came along, the Victorians made their
own version here in Crystal Palace, albeit, on a cheaper and smaller
scale. Rather than genetic engineering or million dollar special
effects, the Victorians used some plaster and a few crayons to recreate
the Jurassic period. The result is a piece of comedy gold. 33 Monsters
in various poses inhabit several islands in one of the park's lakes.
Incidentally, they were called The Monsters because the word dinosaur
did not yet exist at the time.
The lakes are fenced off but you can still get close enough for a good
look. Rather than being scary, though, The Monsters are hilarious. They
are out of proportion and very strange looking. Some of them are not
even dinosaurs at all, my favourite being a sloth!
At a time when many Victorians still thought that the earth was a few
thousand years old and had started with Genesis; these Monsters must
have terrified them. I'm sure that the existence of dinosaurs must have
made them think that maybe Darwin's newly published book might have been
right after all. Enjoy.
mob
May 2006 |
Anerley
Hill
Crystal
Palace
London
Map link
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