Inside Alexandra Palace

Image: © Marathon Taken: 19 Mar 2022

Alexandra Park is the former commercial pleasure grounds of the Alexandra Palace. The Alexandra Palace was erected by the Alexandra Park Company between 1864 and 1873. It was designed to serve as a public centre of recreation, education and entertainment and as North London's counterpart to The Crystal Palace. Sixteen days after the public opening ceremony the Palace caught fire and was destroyed. The owners immediately began construction again and the Palace was rebuilt within two years. In July 1980, this building was again almost destroyed by fire but has since been largely restored again. In 1936 the palace became the home of the world's first regular public high-definition television service, operated by the BBC. Alexandra Palace continued to be used by the BBC for many years and its radio and television mast is still in use. For a full history see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra_Palace Alexandra Palace and Park were purchased "for the free use of the people for ever" in 1900 by a consortium of local authorities led by Hornsey Urban District Council. An Act of Parliament in that year created the Alexandra Palace and Park Trust. The Park and Palace are named after Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VIIth. Ownership passed to the London Borough of Haringey in 1980. One of the great attractions is the tremendous views to the south and east, stretching down towards the Thames Estuary, as well as to Kent and Essex - see https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7123478 The towers of the City of London and Canary Wharf are also usually clearly seen. In 1936, Alexandra Palace became the home of the BBC's first regular public television service. After the war, Alexandra Palace continued to be used by the BBC for many years and its radio and television mast is still in use. It is a prominent landmark. The Palace is a regular exhibition space when the interior can be appreciated.

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