Crystal Palace before the fire
- - and after
When I arrived home, I went with John to Croydon Airport to see if we could get a swim at an open air swimming pool there. One look at the crowds and we decided to go over to have a look at the airport. What had once been one of London's main airports was being pulled down - we actually saw the workmen taking the large letters off the front of the "Airport Hotel" and dropping them to the ground. There are only private 'planes there now but even they are slowly disappearing.
On Friday I went to Forest Hill and Hornimans Museum at Forrest Hill where I saw the 'Apostle's Clock'. This is a German clock. At a set time, the apostles appear at one side and pass a model of Christ and they all bow to him, except the last one. This is Judas who turns away from Christ.
Then I went to the Crystal Palace, or remains of same. I walked round the foundations of the palace and saw the TV mast.
Crystal Palace before the fire |
- - and after |
(My parents had lived near the Crystal Palace when it burnt down on the 30th November, 1936 and I recall my mother quite often talking about that night. She maintained that it was "a blessing in disguise" because, had it remained, it would have been a very clear land mark for the German bombers which came that way five or so years later. So it was a funny feeling walking among the remaining rubble.)
Please feel free to contact me by e-mail at elliottsimpson@hotmail.com
March 2006