Crystal Palace Subway restoration progress revealed

As its rehabilitation progresses, the Crystal Palace Subway is expected to reopen in time for its 160th anniversary in 2019.
Originally intended to connect a new train station to the palace itself, the Grade-II* listed tunnel is tucked away beneath the Crystal Palace Parade.
It is among the few surviving buildings from the 1936 Crystal Palace fire.
After closing in the 1950s, the High Level Crystal Palace station was dismantled in 1961.

Beneath the A212, the subway is a lavishly ornamented underpass with eighteen stone columns topped by fanned arches of terracotta and white brickwork.
After serving as an air raid shelter in World War II, it was occasionally utilized for neighborhood events.
The Subway was used to film The Chemical Brothers’ 1996 music video for “Setting Sun.”

The East Courtyard now has a new roof, and the walls, floor, steps, and entrances have all been repaired.
The new community-led park custodian of the area where the subway is located, Crystal Palace Park Trust, will oversee the underground.
On Saturday, September 21, the area will be accessible to the public as part of the Open House Festival.

The London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR) eventually absorbed the Crystal Palace and South London Junction Railway (CPSLJR), which terminated at the station.
Charles Barry Jr. designed both the subway and the station.
He co-designed the Piccadilly forecourt of Burlington House, the home of the Royal Academy, with fellow architect Robert Richardson Banks.

Despite continuing investment in the route, the Crystal Palace High Level Station never saw the large number of passengers expected.
Although there were few passengers during World War One, the station was eventually electrified in 1925.

The chairman of Historic England, Lord Mendoza, stated: “The restoration of the subway has been a labor of love.”The local community’s perseverance and the dedication of partners and funders made the revitalization of this remarkable area feasible.
“Traditions unite people, and as a new venue in Crystal Palace, the subway—a stunning example of Victorian architecture—will do just that for many.”