Identifier: londonitsenviron00adam (find matches)
Title: London and its environs : a practical guide to the metropolis and its vicinity, illustrated by maps, plans and views
Year: 1862 (1860s)
Authors: Adam and Charles Black (Firm)
Subjects:
Publisher: Edinburgh : A. & C. Black
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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who do not drive, the railway, with many tramsin the course of the day, from both the London Bridge Stationand the Victoria Station, Pimlico, offers every facility for reachingthe palace. The Crj^stal Palace is seen from far, crowning Sydenham Hillwith a structure of glittering glass, held together by iron. It owesits origin to the Exhibition building of 1851, a structure of thesame materials, and designed by the same person. Sir JosephPaxton, M.P. A joint-stock company, promoted by a numberof gentlemen who believed that a permanent edifice might be ofgreat service in furthering the education of the people, andaflbrding them a laige amount of innocent recreation at a cheaprate, purchased an estate which now comprehends about 200acres, erected the buildings, and laid out the gardens, at an ex-pense of nearly two millions sterlmg—a sum verj^ much beyondthat originally contemplated. The main building is 1608 feetlong, v\ith a vvidth thioughout the nave of 312 feet, increased to 4,:. f
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THE CRYSTAL PALACE. 347 384 feet at the central transept. A striking feature of theinterior is its great height, the nave rising to the height of 110feet above the ground floor; the central transept to the height of174 feet. Two spacious galleries extend at each side of the navethroughout its entire length, and round each end. From a dis-tance the two towers, 284 feet high, are conspicuous objects.These can be ascended by a sjDiral staircase, and their roofscommand, as may be imagined, a splendid view of the country,extending into six counties. They serve the double purpose ofcarrying off the smoke of the fires which heat the building, andof maintaining in tanks at their sunmiits a supply of water forthe high jets of the great fountains. Railway visitors alight ata covered station, and proceed along a wing (passing under roomsemployed as dining-rooms) to the south end of the main build-ing. The corresponding north wing was blown do^vn by aviolent storm in February 1861, and has not be

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