Crystal Palace Subway

[squirmelia]

On the edge of the park at Crystal Palace is an abandoned subway full of pillars and ornate ceilings. It is Open House Weekend and I put on a hard hat and look around.

Inside the subway I wander around the pillars, and stare at what remains of the rusty light fittings, and the crumbling walls, parts of which are prettily overgrown with creepers.

A postcard of the subway depicts sphinxes, but it is not until I walk through Crystal Palace park, they are revealed, hiding amongst the undergrowth.

A leaflet says:

"The subway was intended to provide safe passage to the Crystal Palace for first class rail passengers arriving into the High Level station."

"A team of Italian Cathedral craftsmen created the Byzantine styled structure in 1865."

More information: Crystal Palace Subway website.

Comments

[spiralsheep.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you were able to see this an Battersea. I like the dinosaurs even better than the subway but its distinctive elegance is definitely worth experiencing.