norfolk brummie
gone but not forgotten
Currently reading: (Isambard Kingdom) BRUNEL THE MAN WHO BUILT THE WORLD.
The Building Committee for the construction of the 1851 Exhibition at the Crystal Palace, was mainly led by Robert Stephenson, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who, in 1850, produced their own designs. The Dome was Brunel's particular contribution, although it was considered ugly. The gardener and engineer, Joseph Paxton, then designed his own sketch for a giant glass house, which became known as the Crystal Palace. At 1,848 feet long, and 456 feet wide, it was arguably the largest enclosed space in the world.
The contract for building was given to a Smethwick engineering company: Messrs FOX, HENDERSON & COMPANY, who had offered to build for £89,950. They achieved the build in five months flat, and the Exhibition was opened, as planned, on May 1st 1851. It was considered one of the most remarkable feats of technology, in the whole history of building.
Having witnessed the fine work of the Midland company, to Brunel it had become clear that the temporary Paddington Station structure was no longer adequate for their fast rising railway traffic, and with the building of the Crystal Palace very much in his mind, Brunel developed the outline plans for the new Paddington Station, and although FOX, HENDERSON & CO, were still engaged with the Crystal Palace project, he presented them with outlined details plans for the first station build. Fox, Henderson & Co, then added the final details to the station roof, who then manufactured and built it.
The wrought iron sections, like those of the Crystal Palace, were made at their Smethwick factory, and shipped by canal down to London.
After the 1851 Great Exhibition, Fox, Henderson & Co, set to work dismantling the Crystal Palace, and reconstructing it at Sydenham, in South London, in a new park area that became known as Crystal Palace.
The new site was to also feature huge fountains, which of course, required water. This created an engineering problem. A water tank would be required to hold 500 tons (later increased to 1500) tons of water. Fox, Henderson & Co, of Smethwick, built the robust, but elegant looking towers in 1854/56.
Sadly the Crystal Place was destroyed by fire in 1936, although the water towers survived, only to be demolished in 1940/41, as they were considered a landmark for German bombers.
Paddington Station, though, remains in good order, and is one of Britain's busiest termini. It is also one of the most historically resonant buildings of its age.
It was a child of the Crystal Palace, and it is the most important physical legacy we have from that extraordinary moment in British history, which not only represented the zenith of the Victorian age, but stands in testament to the fine engineering and manufacturing skills of the people that lived in the Birmingham area.
Hopefully I may have the opportunity to again visit Paddington Station, look up at the great cathedral like roof and shout "Made in Birmingham"!
Eddie
The Building Committee for the construction of the 1851 Exhibition at the Crystal Palace, was mainly led by Robert Stephenson, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who, in 1850, produced their own designs. The Dome was Brunel's particular contribution, although it was considered ugly. The gardener and engineer, Joseph Paxton, then designed his own sketch for a giant glass house, which became known as the Crystal Palace. At 1,848 feet long, and 456 feet wide, it was arguably the largest enclosed space in the world.
The contract for building was given to a Smethwick engineering company: Messrs FOX, HENDERSON & COMPANY, who had offered to build for £89,950. They achieved the build in five months flat, and the Exhibition was opened, as planned, on May 1st 1851. It was considered one of the most remarkable feats of technology, in the whole history of building.
Having witnessed the fine work of the Midland company, to Brunel it had become clear that the temporary Paddington Station structure was no longer adequate for their fast rising railway traffic, and with the building of the Crystal Palace very much in his mind, Brunel developed the outline plans for the new Paddington Station, and although FOX, HENDERSON & CO, were still engaged with the Crystal Palace project, he presented them with outlined details plans for the first station build. Fox, Henderson & Co, then added the final details to the station roof, who then manufactured and built it.
The wrought iron sections, like those of the Crystal Palace, were made at their Smethwick factory, and shipped by canal down to London.
After the 1851 Great Exhibition, Fox, Henderson & Co, set to work dismantling the Crystal Palace, and reconstructing it at Sydenham, in South London, in a new park area that became known as Crystal Palace.
The new site was to also feature huge fountains, which of course, required water. This created an engineering problem. A water tank would be required to hold 500 tons (later increased to 1500) tons of water. Fox, Henderson & Co, of Smethwick, built the robust, but elegant looking towers in 1854/56.
Sadly the Crystal Place was destroyed by fire in 1936, although the water towers survived, only to be demolished in 1940/41, as they were considered a landmark for German bombers.
Paddington Station, though, remains in good order, and is one of Britain's busiest termini. It is also one of the most historically resonant buildings of its age.
It was a child of the Crystal Palace, and it is the most important physical legacy we have from that extraordinary moment in British history, which not only represented the zenith of the Victorian age, but stands in testament to the fine engineering and manufacturing skills of the people that lived in the Birmingham area.
Hopefully I may have the opportunity to again visit Paddington Station, look up at the great cathedral like roof and shout "Made in Birmingham"!
Eddie
