A sealed-off Victorian tunnel under a road in Crystal Palace is set to reopen to the public after the trust fund looking after it reached its fundraising target.

The Crystal Palace Subway is a short, but exceptionally grandly decorated tunnel that would have taken 1st-class train passengers from the railway station to the Crystal Palace.

IMG_0396

Although the hallway is now open to the elements, and the station long since demolished, the tunnel has lingered on, closed off and only occasionally opened to the public, or local rock groups.

IMG_0432

There is a claim that the subway was built by Italian workmen specially brought over for the job — but that might be an urban myth as there seems to be little to support the claim which can only be traced back a few decades.

The timing of the reopening is also significant, as this December marks its 150th birthday, and the Friends of the Crystal Palace Subway hope to reopen it in time for the anniversary. At the moment, they have planning permission to reinstate safe pedestrian access on the Southwark side of the subway — as the tunnel straddles two boroughs and the grand, if crumbling staircase sits inside Bromley borough.

IMG_0606

Although funds and planning permission have been secured for the main opening, they are still fundraising to be able to do more with the tunnel — details here.

NEWSLETTER

Be the first to know what's on in London, and the latest news published on ianVisits.

You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails.

Tagged with:
SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE

This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles.

It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising.

Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver, every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website, and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts.

If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here.

Thank you

One comment
  1. Chris Hall says:

    Hi Ian
    Any idea what, if anything, has happened with the idea to rebuild the Crystal Palace? Seems to be nothing since 2014 in the news about it, or have I missed out on this?

    Chris (from a certain restaurant in Battersea)

Home >> News >> History