As someone who was born and bred in Crystal Palace, i've seen more of the park in this video then I have in my 51years of living in the area. I count myself fortunate to have this on my doorstep and i'm really grateful for you bringing the beauty and the History of the park to a wider audience..great stuff...well done.
I've been saying for years, the 60s and 70s have a lot to answer for in regards to architecture and demolishing old buildings or trying to salvage them. Wouldn't it be lovely if it was all rebuilt. Loving the now and then pictures 👍
Living in South Wales this is a common thought of mine. My mum's partners father was an artist with a very keen interest in local History and was very well known locally before his passing. He would put hundreds, if not thousands of hours of research into his art before he even thought about starting his painting. A lot of his art work is on those information pedestal sort of things you see when walking around. The ones that give you historical information about wherever it is you are currently standing. Every time I see what was, and what is now, it's always because of blatant disrespect for what was then fairly recent History. My guess was in the 60's/70's it wasn't really that long ago so people didn't consider it as history and just "old buildings." Damn shame.
Since this video was made, the "rusty laptop amphitheatre" platform has been refloored and a permanent bridge to connects it to the land with a small cafe besides.
Your editing, superimposing, and commenting are second to none.... very interesting to watch.... it must have been an impressive sight back in its day!
How sad so very sad that someone couldn’t have rebuilt it how it used to be. Haunting music. Thank you for telling us all about this piece of lost history. Looking forward to part 3.
Excellent walk into the past of a park that holds many secrets. I visited Crystal Palace a few times and you see the clues particularly in the lower and upper terraces of how magnificent this place once was. A shame that even though the palace itself burned down the rest of the park was not maintained in all its glory. The crappy concrete walkway is a simply a 60's/70's pattern repeated all over London by city planners who had no idea what they were losing.
Really enjoyed the drone footage. It helps you to put everything into context. As someone who used to live not too far from the Crystal Palace Park, I cannot believe how much was destroyed in the sixties. Apparently, the sports stadium was built from the bricks recycled when they demolished the high level station in March 1961.
So glad someone has finally made this video. Every time I visit I am fascinated with the history and always wondered what remains are hidden. I have also heard of entrance turnstiles hidden in bushes near the park perimetre, not sure if these date from Crystal Palace era or motor racing era. I am very interested in the Pneumatic railway, as it seems a bit of an urban myth, with several digs having taken place over the years with no remains found, although sketches of the time show stations, structures and indeed a tunnel entrance. In terms of the racing track, a few friends and I walked the circuit and near the Low Level station, we found remains of rumble strip kerb stones, and also the typical race track chain link fencing with an angled top near to the sports centre access road on top of a wall that would have edged the 'home straight' and had spectators behind.
I was in Crystal Palace Park two years ago looking at much of what you have covered and i loved it. I have always known about CP as i was born in Croydon and i lived in nearby South Norwood. The night it burnt down my mum was in the local picture palace when someone came in and told everyone the Crystal Palace was on fire. My mum rushed home got on her bike and rode up to Crystal Palace and i remember her telling me that as she went up Anerley Hill the liquid glass was coming down the hill. My mum also told me that her mum helped out on a stall in the grounds during the festival that was held there. In later years my Aunt lived in a block of flats on Anerley hill and her window over looked the platforms of Crystal Palace Stn low level ....I also remember being in my back garden in the early 70's and you could hear the cars racing around the race track.... One other fact not directly connected to the CP but I K Brunel who built the towers died on the 15th September 1859 ... I was born on the 15th September 1959 100 years later .... 😃
Superb editing again. The overlaying of the old photos really brings it altogether. I`ve never been, but it's somewhere I've always wanted to visit as Sir Joseph Paxton is in my family ancestry tree. Can't wait for part three of this great mini series 👍
You have brought back so many happy memories as far as Crystal Palace I lived in South Norwood and my nan and grandad used to take us there for a special treat ice cream and fishing on the lake Also best fireworks night Festival on the original spot where the Crystal Palace was Thank you happy memories
I’m in my early sixties and remember being taken, with my siblings, to the dinosaur park by my parents as a child. Happy days. Thank you for explaining how it was back in Victorian times. I have family now living in Penge and they too will be interested to see these videos. I feel quite emotional! Thank you again 👍
Another beautifully put together piece Darren, loving the detail you go into, and overlap of pics to help us vision how it's changed so much, sad to see 60s concrete boxes in place of lovely fountains and step water feature. Waiting for part 3 .
The Grand Fountains had been destroyed by the Victorians long before the 1960s. They in-filled them and turned them into a football pitch and cycle track. The cascades were mostly just ruins by the 1910s covered by faux buildings in the 1911 Festival of Empire
Loving this series. Back in 1968/69 I spent a week at the sports centre with the school, one evening a couple of us went exploring wasn’t supposed to but the running stadium wasn’t complete, I remember the grand stone staircases, and lots of glass littered the ground. After seeing this video, I want to go back.! Thank you.
@@greenthumb6971 I believe one of the straights was under the concrete walkway where people now race model cars, So it was pretty close to the actual stadium.
Your perspective’s on super-imposition scenes are spot-on. I do paintings of places which have much history, but as they look today. Absolutely fascinating.
Thank you for the three videos . Have watched them out of sequence . Well researched & narrated. Learnt so much from watching them . Always good to get fade in / out of original photos with current images . Makes sense of past relating to present . Thank you for all the hard work you put into production of these 3 videos .
You need desperately to find, similar historian’s to speak to of the last 4 generation’s, before they pass. Or with you terrific drone - layer over a scale historic map. to locate these spots of interest. Yes you have already done this! Such brilliant research.
As always, thank you for the footsteps back in time. Your an amazing creator of the great steps back in time. God has gifted you with quite a talent. As always, thanks for the trip into the past. Cheers, Darren. Looking forward to the next adventure back in time. 🏴😊👍🇺🇸
fabulous presentation and revealing of layers of the past. I kind of grew up in this Park really. the staircase that you we're not sure about is not Victorian but is part of the the access to the stadium the overlay are really well done and to scale
Wow! Your knowledge of Crystal Palace Park is astounding! It's given me a whole new understanding of its grandeur back in the day. I can't wait to visit again - I'll be using this video as a guide 🙂
Excellent PT 2! The feature at 2:53 I believe is a remnant of what used to be a pedestrian bridge from a ticket gate over the track into the Sports stadium back in the 60's and 70's since demolished. Again, great job visualising the locations of the old features... Eagerly looking forward to part 3!
An absoluely great video and very informative.I was born and lived in Upper Norwood and Crystal Palace was one of our 'playgrounds'.Especially the High Level station where we used to play for hours.It is criminal that it has never been rebuilt and would make a great exhibition centre again as well as a fabulous park.Councils waste money on things like cycle lanes when it could be used to restore magnificent places like this.And as for that 'monstrosity that was built in the 60's with an 'Olympic swimming pool that was built TOO SHORT to be an Olympic pool,that should be demolished.And while they are at it, re-instate the fabulous motor racing circuit that we all used to love except the immediate neighbours!
I remember playing in the old High Level, they had removed most of the flooring and we walked along the beams with the rain bed in view below us, it was fun climbing in along the window sills and daring the watchmen to catch us, also remember walking through the tunnel which had a slight bend in it, the tunnel under the road was bricked up but there was a gap at the top which could be climbed through to see the arches. Best playground ever. Paxtons head in the park was facing the other way and there was a circle of statues there, more statues were stored in the pumping station, could be seen through the gloom if you climbed up the door and looked in the top.
I'm with you on bring back the racing circuit even if its just for classic and club meeting it closed long before I was born so never got the chance to go
Great part two Darren , looking forward to part three . You have enlightened me on quite a few things I did know must go back and have another walk round soon . It is so sad that all this great engineering we had , has been lost before we were aware of it's worth .
Very impressed by your knowledge and your video editing blending the original with the current 21st century remains is absolutely brilliant, it’s such a shame that most of the park has disappeared , but it would appear that in the 1960’s they gave no thought about it’s history and buried those magnificent fountains and water features along with the grand avenue. I’m really looking forward seeing part 3, such a pleasure to watch.
A fantastic journey. Thank you so much. You’d think they would give you a key to go deep into those closed areas as you do such a splendid job of uncovering this fantastic u.k. history. Trouble is….. there is layer, over layer. l use to attend the first U.K. Formula One racing back in 1967 before it moved to Brands Hatch. Back yonder in those years there was an excitement - post Festival of Britain ‘51, to the future, and in the early 70’s the sports area was splashed and built over once again.
Such a shame so many of our beautiful buildings and history has been demolished so easily. I think the public should get much more of a say about what happens to our history and heritage. It must have been an amazing place to visit in its day! Excellent video 😁
Nice one... lots of happy memories from my childhood having grown up in the area. We could hear the racing cars in the mid 1970's and spent our weekends at the swimming and diving pool. I must pop back one day and have a look myself.
What a nice series of videos, I love the before and after shots, really impressive,England is fast sinking into the soil and thanks to people like you, you unearth those relics of the past ❤
Please excuse me but I had a peek at your subbed channels (yes I should be working but your lovely face drew me in!), and thought you would appreciate one of Thomas Sheridan's history and paranormal channels ruclips.net/channel/UCgRBoOKHFoIDJjtrle4IsGA
That first shot of the intermediate reservoir is the peg I fish from. Nice little lake. Fenced off and members only so get to enjoy part of the park all to yourself some days
Just stumbled across this video and your channel. Absolute brilliant piece of historical, investigative journalism; one of the best I've seen on this topic. Lopped forward to looking at a few more of your videos. Subbed 👍🏾
Great set of vids - in my opinion there’s a balance between restoring the old and preserving the ruins. Personally I’d rather see what’s left of original Victorian work rather than modern materials showing a restored copy. The aquarium I hope is left and maintained in its current condition.
why have they destroyed most of the footprint of the Palace with concrete tat ? I wonder if most of the statues were auctioned and ended up in the USA. the drone footage is spectacular, if only it could be rebuilt, really enjoyed this and Part one, can't wait for Part 3.
Fantastic series, I was brought up very close by in Bromley and used to go here all the time, and even at a young age was so engaged by its history and remember wondering about with my dad looking for any remnants. Really, really enjoyed these videos, thank you SO much!
Love the 2nd part of the crystal palace vids cant wait for part 3 to drop! ..now im a northener BUT don't stop me apreicating history especialy great british landmarks like the crystal palace that sadly burned ans was demoilished before my time! ....its a great shame that non of the fountains ect in the park survive but thats so called progress for you! even though crystal palace park is still a great place for londoners to visit my personal view is they have lost so much there that could have been kept ect ..there aint many parks ect that have such majestic fountains / water features left apart from statly houses these days ect such a loss tbh for the folks in london ;(
6:30 right where the half pipe was in 1984. First time I ever saw an ollie. Toward the end that is a foundation base. The concrete ring is still there or at least it was, below ground level. remember it was just grass and then they suddenly dig it up in the 90’s.
Excellent as always Darren. I know I`m a cynical old bugger but it seems to me that all modern "improvements" ever do is to spoil things. What a place that was in the day but look at it now.
What's njot to love about this video? Highly informative, beatifully edited and the lovely haunting music was a superb addittion. Thanks for a really superb job.
3 Excellent episodes on Crystal Palace: Trying to glean something positive about the loss of this history - and looking on the bright side... if Crystal Palace and the associated landscaping hadn't occured here, it would probably be housing now.. thank God, we have some remnants and this amazing open space.
Brilliant vid as allways makes me so angry these places have been demolished our heritage gone outstanding buildings gone for what keep up the brilliant work darren 👍
I’m really enjoying this series. The old palace and park must have been a truly wonderful day out in it’s original splendour. Thanks your for top quality content.
Hello, I didn't even know the Crystal Palace was demolished along with fountains etc! I'm nearly 56. I've never been to London properly. Very interesting videos you do!... Keep up the good work!!!!
Lived right next to the park back in the 70s before my family’s move to Australia. Would spend hours in the park just looking at the dinosaurs, collecting conkers, playing football and just enjoying being a kid. My lasting memory though is the flamingos kept in a pond just past CP station on the west side. Seemed so odd, yet they were stunning birds and just a bit smelly! The park was my favourite place in the world…
I literally share this exact same passion for famous or non famous and local buildings that once existed and now doesn’t, it’s fascinating to see remains and jems of original elements. Such a shame when no traces are left, completely unrecognisable and looks the same as everywhere else
What an excellent video! Your research and mapping and superimposing make your work oh so much better than most professional documentaries on the Crystal Palace! Re: your question at 2:50 - it looks to me like a concrete plinth - a base for one of the statues. As a boy in London in the 1970s I remember visiting the park and seeing the remains of the palace - the stairs &c. It's a pity that none of the fountains and the associated gardens were maintained, but one thing I do remember about being a boy in 1970s London was that, thirty years on, the city was still in the process of rebuilding some areas destroyed by the German Blitz of World War II. Still, it seems that areas like the great series of stone arches should be celebrated rather than fenced off, and as for the huge fountain now turned into a parking area what comes to my mind is the song refrain "they paved paradise and they put up a parking lot!" (Joni Mitchell, I think.) Anyway I appreciate your good work - have always been fascinated by the Crystal Palace - am subscribing and looking forward to more! Perhaps a visit to the area where the statues and other architectural antiques are stored? The museum? Are there curators willing to speak?
Also if you haven't seen it already there's a short film called "the pleasure gardens" 1953' by James Broughton that was filmed in the ruins of the Crystal Palace Park and surrounding areas staring a very young and beautiful Hattie Jacques with her then husband John Le Mesurier. Its on RUclips. PS fascinating video by the way thanks for posting 👍
As someone who was born and bred in Crystal Palace, i've seen more of the park in this video then I have in my 51years of living in the area. I count myself fortunate to have this on my doorstep and i'm really grateful for you bringing the beauty and the History of the park to a wider audience..great stuff...well done.
Thanks Ian. That's me happy then.
I've been saying for years, the 60s and 70s have a lot to answer for in regards to architecture and demolishing old buildings or trying to salvage them. Wouldn't it be lovely if it was all rebuilt. Loving the now and then pictures 👍
Its crimal i dont know what went throught their mind!
You're not wrong, the architects of the 60s and 70s (and those that empowered them) have a lot to answer for.
Living in South Wales this is a common thought of mine. My mum's partners father was an artist with a very keen interest in local History and was very well known locally before his passing. He would put hundreds, if not thousands of hours of research into his art before he even thought about starting his painting. A lot of his art work is on those information pedestal sort of things you see when walking around. The ones that give you historical information about wherever it is you are currently standing. Every time I see what was, and what is now, it's always because of blatant disrespect for what was then fairly recent History. My guess was in the 60's/70's it wasn't really that long ago so people didn't consider it as history and just "old buildings." Damn shame.
@@Ellis01234567890 I couldn’t agree with your comment more!! Damn shame indeed!!
Since this video was made, the "rusty laptop amphitheatre" platform has been refloored and a permanent bridge to connects it to the land with a small cafe besides.
Your editing, superimposing, and commenting are second to none.... very interesting to watch.... it must have been an impressive sight back in its day!
It makes you think what else in the world has been built prior to photo evidence
Yes it was
How sad so very sad that someone couldn’t have rebuilt it how it used to be. Haunting music. Thank you for telling us all about this piece of lost history. Looking forward to part 3.
Excellent walk into the past of a park that holds many secrets. I visited Crystal Palace a few times and you see the clues particularly in the lower and upper terraces of how magnificent this place once was. A shame that even though the palace itself burned down the rest of the park was not maintained in all its glory. The crappy concrete walkway is a simply a 60's/70's pattern repeated all over London by city planners who had no idea what they were losing.
Thanks for sharing!
Without the Palace providing income, there would have been no money to maintain the gardens.
Really enjoyed the drone footage. It helps you to put everything into context. As someone who used to live not too far from the Crystal Palace Park, I cannot believe how much was destroyed in the sixties. Apparently, the sports stadium was built from the bricks recycled when they demolished the high level station in March 1961.
Thanks for watching.
So glad someone has finally made this video. Every time I visit I am fascinated with the history and always wondered what remains are hidden.
I have also heard of entrance turnstiles hidden in bushes near the park perimetre, not sure if these date from Crystal Palace era or motor racing era.
I am very interested in the Pneumatic railway, as it seems a bit of an urban myth, with several digs having taken place over the years with no remains found, although sketches of the time show stations, structures and indeed a tunnel entrance.
In terms of the racing track, a few friends and I walked the circuit and near the Low Level station, we found remains of rumble strip kerb stones, and also the typical race track chain link fencing with an angled top near to the sports centre access road on top of a wall that would have edged the 'home straight' and had spectators behind.
Thanks for watching.
Incredible. Absolutely incredible documentary. One of the best I've ever seen. I never realized the scale and beauty of the Palace and grounds.
Thanks for watching
This video is amazing. The detail and cinematic approach is very well presented! Thank you.
I was in Crystal Palace Park two years ago looking at much of what you have covered and i loved it. I have always known about CP as i was born in Croydon and i lived in nearby South Norwood. The night it burnt down my mum was in the local picture palace when someone came in and told everyone the Crystal Palace was on fire. My mum rushed home got on her bike and rode up to Crystal Palace and i remember her telling me that as she went up Anerley Hill the liquid glass was coming down the hill. My mum also told me that her mum helped out on a stall in the grounds during the festival that was held there. In later years my Aunt lived in a block of flats on Anerley hill and her window over looked the platforms of Crystal Palace Stn low level ....I also remember being in my back garden in the early 70's and you could hear the cars racing around the race track.... One other fact not directly connected to the CP but I K Brunel who built the towers died on the 15th September 1859 ... I was born on the 15th September 1959 100 years later .... 😃
I loved that. Great read.
Thanks for the memories.
Superb editing again. The overlaying of the old photos really brings it altogether. I`ve never been, but it's somewhere I've always wanted to visit as Sir Joseph Paxton is in my family ancestry tree. Can't wait for part three of this great mini series 👍
Dont forget to check the Paxton horticulturaly club in Headlingley, Leeds
Really enjoyed this. As a palace resident since birth I’ve always walked in the park wondering how it looked. You’ve brought it to life big time
Glad you enjoyed it!
You have brought back so many happy memories as far as Crystal Palace I lived in South Norwood and my nan and grandad used to take us there for a special treat ice cream and fishing on the lake
Also best fireworks night Festival on the original spot where the Crystal Palace was
Thank you happy memories
I’m in my early sixties and remember being taken, with my siblings, to the dinosaur park by my parents as a child. Happy days. Thank you for explaining how it was back in Victorian times. I have family now living in Penge and they too will be interested to see these videos. I feel quite emotional! Thank you again 👍
Thanks for watching.
Another beautifully put together piece Darren, loving the detail you go into, and overlap of pics to help us vision how it's changed so much, sad to see 60s concrete boxes in place of lovely fountains and step water feature. Waiting for part 3 .
The Grand Fountains had been destroyed by the Victorians long before the 1960s. They in-filled them and turned them into a football pitch and cycle track. The cascades were mostly just ruins by the 1910s covered by faux buildings in the 1911 Festival of Empire
Thanks for watching.
Loving this series. Back in 1968/69 I spent a week at the sports centre with the school, one evening a couple of us went exploring wasn’t supposed to but the running stadium wasn’t complete, I remember the grand stone staircases, and lots of glass littered the ground. After seeing this video, I want to go back.! Thank you.
The sports stadium opened in 1964.
@@ZeldaFitz never realised when I went that it was relatively new. Stands were only on the main straight at the time.
@@ZeldaFitz when the sports stadium was built how close was the racing circuit?
@@greenthumb6971 I believe one of the straights was under the concrete walkway where people now race model cars, So it was pretty close to the actual stadium.
Your perspective’s on super-imposition scenes are spot-on. I do paintings of places which have much history, but as they look today. Absolutely fascinating.
Many thanks!
Thank you for the three videos . Have watched them out of sequence . Well researched & narrated. Learnt so much from watching them . Always good to get fade in / out of original photos with current images . Makes sense of past relating to present .
Thank you for all the hard work you put into production of these 3 videos .
Thanks for watching.
You need desperately to find, similar historian’s to speak to of the last 4 generation’s, before they pass. Or with you terrific drone - layer over a scale historic map. to locate these spots of interest. Yes you have already done this! Such brilliant research.
As always, thank you for the footsteps back in time. Your an amazing creator of the great steps back in time. God has gifted you with quite a talent. As always, thanks for the trip into the past. Cheers, Darren. Looking forward to the next adventure back in time. 🏴😊👍🇺🇸
Wow, thank you
Love these videos, can’t wait for part 3. Many childhood memories of Crystal Palace Park 🥰
Amazing work your Historic video's are some of the best on RUclips 👌👍
Glad you think so!
fabulous presentation and revealing of layers of the past. I kind of grew up in this Park really. the staircase that you we're not sure about is not Victorian but is part of the the access to the stadium the overlay are really well done and to scale
What a fantastic video - well paced, excellent research and professional. Brilliant work.
Yet another brilliant informative video Darren, looking forward to Pt.3
Wow! Your knowledge of Crystal Palace Park is astounding! It's given me a whole new understanding of its grandeur back in the day. I can't wait to visit again - I'll be using this video as a guide 🙂
Thanks Angie. It was a passion of mine, spent many hours researching.
Excellent PT 2! The feature at 2:53 I believe is a remnant of what used to be a pedestrian bridge from a ticket gate over the track into the Sports stadium back in the 60's and 70's since demolished. Again, great job visualising the locations of the old features... Eagerly looking forward to part 3!
Thanks for watching.
An absoluely great video and very informative.I was born and lived in Upper Norwood and Crystal Palace was one of our 'playgrounds'.Especially the High Level station where we used to play for hours.It is criminal that it has never been rebuilt and would make a great exhibition centre again as well as a fabulous park.Councils waste money on things like cycle lanes when it could be used to restore magnificent places like this.And as for that 'monstrosity that was built in the 60's with an 'Olympic swimming pool that was built TOO SHORT to be an Olympic pool,that should be demolished.And while they are at it, re-instate the fabulous motor racing circuit that we all used to love except the immediate neighbours!
Thanks for watching. More to come.
I remember playing in the old High Level, they had removed most of the flooring and we walked along the beams with the rain bed in view below us, it was fun
climbing in along the window sills and daring the watchmen to catch us, also remember walking through the tunnel which had a slight bend in it, the tunnel under
the road was bricked up but there was a gap at the top which could be climbed through to see the arches. Best playground ever.
Paxtons head in the park was facing the other way and there was a circle of statues there, more statues were stored in the pumping station, could be seen through
the gloom if you climbed up the door and looked in the top.
I'm with you on bring back the racing circuit even if its just for classic and club meeting it closed long before I was born so never got the chance to go
Your use of google birds eye, old photos and old postcards really helps tell the story, thanks. So much history in so little time, great job.
Thanks Mike. Glad it worked
Great part two Darren , looking forward to part three . You have enlightened me on quite a few things I did know must go back and have another walk round soon .
It is so sad that all this great engineering we had , has been lost before we were aware of it's worth .
Very impressed by your knowledge and your video editing blending the original with the current 21st century remains is absolutely brilliant, it’s such a shame that most of the park has disappeared , but it would appear that in the 1960’s they gave no thought about it’s history and buried those magnificent fountains and water features along with the grand avenue. I’m really looking forward seeing part 3, such a pleasure to watch.
the grand fountains had already been buried by the Victorians in the late 1800s
A fantastic journey. Thank you so much. You’d think they would give you a key to go deep into those closed areas as you do such a splendid job of uncovering this fantastic u.k. history. Trouble is….. there is layer, over layer. l use to attend the first U.K. Formula One racing back in 1967 before it moved to Brands Hatch. Back yonder in those years there was an excitement - post Festival of Britain ‘51, to the future, and in the early 70’s the sports area was splashed and built over once again.
Another fantastically produced production. Thank you
Thanks mate
Such a shame so many of our beautiful buildings and history has been demolished so easily. I think the public should get much more of a say about what happens to our history and heritage. It must have been an amazing place to visit in its day! Excellent video 😁
Thank you
Nice one... lots of happy memories from my childhood having grown up in the area. We could hear the racing cars in the mid 1970's and spent our weekends at the swimming and diving pool. I must pop back one day and have a look myself.
What a nice series of videos, I love the before and after shots, really impressive,England is fast sinking into the soil and thanks to people like you, you unearth those relics of the past ❤
Glad you like them!
Love your videos. Keeping memories alive. Thank you so much 💓
Please excuse me but I had a peek at your subbed channels (yes I should be working but your lovely face drew me in!), and thought you would appreciate one of Thomas Sheridan's history and paranormal channels ruclips.net/channel/UCgRBoOKHFoIDJjtrle4IsGA
Thanks for watching.
superb work as always,thanks lad
No worries
What an incredible achievement the whole Crystal Palace & Park was. Astonishing really.
Thanks for watching
That first shot of the intermediate reservoir is the peg I fish from. Nice little lake. Fenced off and members only so get to enjoy part of the park all to yourself some days
Gorgeous shots of Crystal Palace UHF for us broadcast nerds hope your well mate👋❤️
Thanks Jordy.
Brilliant Darren 👏
Just stumbled across this video and your channel. Absolute brilliant piece of historical, investigative journalism; one of the best I've seen on this topic. Lopped forward to looking at a few more of your videos. Subbed 👍🏾
Welcome aboard! Thanks.
Really well done. Great sleuthing and exploring of the remains and putting it all into context.
Thanks Marc. Tried my best
Well made and fascinating content - many thanks 🙏
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
Great set of vids - in my opinion there’s a balance between restoring the old and preserving the ruins. Personally I’d rather see what’s left of original Victorian work rather than modern materials showing a restored copy. The aquarium I hope is left and maintained in its current condition.
Good point! It's getting cleaned up i think.
Absolutely fascinating look into the original Palace grounds. Once again, thanks for all your hard work. It is very much appreciated.
Honestly, your videos are great... please keep them coming!
Thanks, will do!
why have they destroyed most of the footprint of the Palace with concrete tat ? I wonder if most of the statues were auctioned and ended up in the USA. the drone footage is spectacular, if only it could be rebuilt, really enjoyed this and Part one, can't wait for Part 3.
Thank you yet again a lovely video, Do so agree with you all common sense as regards architecture seem to fly out of the window in the 1960s
Thank you for such a elegant presentation.
My pleasure
Excellent video. Can't wait until part 3.
Thanks for watching.
Fantastic series, I was brought up very close by in Bromley and used to go here all the time, and even at a young age was so engaged by its history and remember wondering about with my dad looking for any remnants. Really, really enjoyed these videos, thank you SO much!
Thanks for watching. More to come like this.
Thanks again Darren.Another excellent video.
Thanks again!
Love the 2nd part of the crystal palace vids cant wait for part 3 to drop! ..now im a northener BUT don't stop me apreicating history especialy great british landmarks like the crystal palace that sadly burned ans was demoilished before my time! ....its a great shame that non of the fountains ect in the park survive but thats so called progress for you! even though crystal palace park is still a great place for londoners to visit my personal view is they have lost so much there that could have been kept ect ..there aint many parks ect that have such majestic fountains / water features left apart from statly houses these days ect such a loss tbh for the folks in london ;(
Really enjoying your videos. So well edited!
Thank you
Very interesting. I like the annotated drone footage, which helps to tie it all together
Thanks 👍
Absolutely brilliant
Fantastic video. Well done. The 60s planners have a lot to answer for.
I agree
Dankeschön!! Ich schaue gern die Videos um den Crystal Palast.👍
I just love your videos there so amazing with all the pictures you throw in well done
Thanks Richard
Another well presented Victorian history revelation.
Thanks looking forward to part 3
Many thanks!
6:30 right where the half pipe was in 1984. First time I ever saw an ollie. Toward the end that is a foundation base. The concrete ring is still there or at least it was, below ground level. remember it was just grass and then they suddenly dig it up in the 90’s.
Thanks for watching.
Excellent as always Darren. I know I`m a cynical old bugger but it seems to me that all modern "improvements" ever do is to spoil things. What a place that was in the day but look at it now.
What's njot to love about this video? Highly informative, beatifully edited and the lovely haunting music was a superb addittion. Thanks for a really superb job.
Thank you very much!
@@AdventureMe Keep these gem's coming please.
Very nice video. Very interesting to watch
Good video and great weather when you filmed
Thanks 👍
this was extremely interesting. thanks a lot!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wasn't sure about your adventures down south but as always you have me watching with interest 💪👏👍
Thanks 👍
Progress eh ! Excellent informative blog keep them coming 👍
Thanks for watching.
Another great video 👍
So much detail, looking forward to part 3
Another excellent video. I always look forward to watching them. Thank you, please keep them coming
Thanks for watching.
Absolutely fascinating series, its such a shame that most of it was destroyed. The whole site looked awesome. Looking forward to part 3
Thanks for watching.
Great video! Very interesting and it’s surprising to see how much remains! Can’t wait for part 3 now
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is haunting stuff. Very well made.
Thanks mate
3 Excellent episodes on Crystal Palace: Trying to glean something positive about the loss of this history - and looking on the bright side... if Crystal Palace and the associated landscaping hadn't occured here, it would probably be housing now.. thank God, we have some remnants and this amazing open space.
Thanks for watching
Brilliant vid as allways makes me so angry these places have been demolished our heritage gone outstanding buildings gone for what keep up the brilliant work darren 👍
Thanks for watching.
This brought back so many memories it made me cry
Glad to be nostalgic for you.
Such a fascinating watch but, also very sad to see what was lost.
Thanks for watching
Thanks!
Thanks Dave. Much appreciated.
I’m really enjoying this series. The old palace and park must have been a truly wonderful day out in it’s original splendour.
Thanks your for top quality content.
Glad you enjoyed it
Hey handsome chops, thanks for these amazing videos 👌🏻
No problem rocky.
Hello, I didn't even know the Crystal Palace was demolished along with fountains etc! I'm nearly 56. I've never been to London properly. Very interesting videos you do!... Keep up the good work!!!!
Thanks David
@@AdventureMe You are most welcome!
Lived right next to the park back in the 70s before my family’s move to Australia. Would spend hours in the park just looking at the dinosaurs, collecting conkers, playing football and just enjoying being a kid. My lasting memory though is the flamingos kept in a pond just past CP station on the west side. Seemed so odd, yet they were stunning birds and just a bit smelly! The park was my favourite place in the world…
I literally share this exact same passion for famous or non famous and local buildings that once existed and now doesn’t, it’s fascinating to see remains and jems of original elements. Such a shame when no traces are left, completely unrecognisable and looks the same as everywhere else
Yes thats my passion too.
Lovely video
Such a shame it’s gone x
Brilliant video and Darren with his shirt off. Bonus.
These are great videos man, thanks for taking the time to document the ruins of the park.
Thanks for watching. More to come.
Looks like hot filming weather down there, thanks for your work.
It was. 34 degrees. Yikes.
What an excellent video! Your research and mapping and superimposing make your work oh so much better than most professional documentaries on the Crystal Palace! Re: your question at 2:50 - it looks to me like a concrete plinth - a base for one of the statues. As a boy in London in the 1970s I remember visiting the park and seeing the remains of the palace - the stairs &c. It's a pity that none of the fountains and the associated gardens were maintained, but one thing I do remember about being a boy in 1970s London was that, thirty years on, the city was still in the process of rebuilding some areas destroyed by the German Blitz of World War II. Still, it seems that areas like the great series of stone arches should be celebrated rather than fenced off, and as for the huge fountain now turned into a parking area what comes to my mind is the song refrain "they paved paradise and they put up a parking lot!" (Joni Mitchell, I think.) Anyway I appreciate your good work - have always been fascinated by the Crystal Palace - am subscribing and looking forward to more! Perhaps a visit to the area where the statues and other architectural antiques are stored? The museum? Are there curators willing to speak?
Thanks for watching.
I love your work, keep it up.x
Thanks Daniel
Brilliant as usual, cheers mate
Thanks again!
Also if you haven't seen it already there's a short film called "the pleasure gardens" 1953' by James Broughton that was filmed in the ruins of the Crystal Palace Park and surrounding areas staring a very young and beautiful Hattie Jacques with her then husband John Le Mesurier. Its on RUclips. PS fascinating video by the way thanks for posting 👍
Really interesting. Shame about the 60's concrete. Can't believe they did that. Thanks for all the info 👍
Thanks for watching
Really enjoyed this can’t believe it’s all gone to pot, plus the amount of areas that were there and now lost. Great lay overs, and information. 😎
Thanks for watching.
Great stuff - really enjoyable.
Many thanks!
Thanks so much for this
You are so welcome!
Always used to go through the penge gate when I was little back in the early 80s, was telling my daughter about this classic park
Thanks for sharing!
Love how you compare the old with the new.
Thanks. My speciality.