Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill, Hornsey, Greater London

The Palace was conceived by Owen Jones in 1858 to rival the Crystal Palace. Work did not actually begin until 1868. It was opened in 1873 but closed within days following a fire. The second Palace, rebuilt in a different form and extended, was opened in 1875. It was for the use of north Londoners for exhibitions, lectures, concerts, theatrical performances and refreshment. This earned it the nickname the 'People's Palace'. In 1936, the BBC broadcast the world's first television programme from the Alexandra Palace. The Palace is a renowned London landmark and a rare survival of a building type. It has a unique place in the history of British popular education and entertainment.

Location

Greater London Hornsey

Period

Victorian (1837 - 1901)

Tags

architecture leisure education philanthropy television Victorian (1837 - 1901)