16 days and 120,000 visitors after it opened in 1873, Alexandra Palace in North London burned down.
The newly rebuilt Palace opened again 2 years later. The Palace along with its gardens perched on a hill high above London was an enormous public recreation ground and the place where the first public television transmissions took place.
And then large parts were ruined by fire again in 1980.
The Palace re-opened in 1988 and Alexandra Park and Palace is now a major music and corporate event venue. It also hosts a weekly farmer’s market, it’s home to a very popular ice-rink, has a great pond for duck-watching, and has one of the best views in London. And it’s a wonderful building.
Ally Pally is celebrating its 150th anniversary on Sunday, and I for one will be popping along to see what’s happening.
Ally Pally from the air (Wikipedia)
Alexandra Palace (http://buttonsandbeeswax.com/)
The view from the Palace (geograph.org.uk)
Alexandra Palace Park (http://northernheightsblog.wordpress.com/)
Born in Belfast and now living in London, Julie McNamee is involved in internet marketing as a day job and blogging as a hobby. She’s interested in all things quirky and Fortean, as well as art, photography and theatre. Her blog Quirky Travel, specializes in London and Paris top tips and off the beaten path information with subjects such as London film locations and unusual Paris museums.
