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A Timeline History of Crystal Palace (Upper Norwood)

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A timeline history of Upper Norwood (Crystal Palace) with prints, photographs and maps
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Crystal Palace was known as Upper Norwood. The name Norwood is derived from the (Great) North Wood which once covered North Surrey and stretched from Croydon to Camberwell.


Mediaeval Norwood

Upper Norwood passed to Whitehorse family in reign of Edward III.

Tudor Norwood

In Tudor times timber for Golden Hinde, being built in Deptford, came from Norwood.

Stuart Norwood

1652 The diarist, John Evelyn, was robbed in Norwoood.

1662
John Aubrey described Norwood as 'a great wood... belonging to the See of Canterbury'.

1665
Became a refuge from the Plague.

Georgian Norwood

1747 Rocque's map showed Great North Wood being reduced by commons.

1797
Beginning of enclosure of Norwood area.

1820s
Upper Norwood now a small suburb.

1820s
Large houses built on Crown Lane.

1829
All Saints church opened on Church Road. Designed by James Savage (Grade II listed).
Beulah Spa opened  by Lady Essex as a place of entertainment. The gardens were laid out by Decimus Burton (1800-1881)who also designed the Spa House and The Lodge.



1831
Beulah Spa opened.



Early Victorian Upper Norwood

1837 South Metropolitan Cemetary was consecrated.

1854
Crystal Palace moved from Hyde Park to Sydenham Hill. More info








 

Crystal Palace and West End Railway line opened. Much house building.



Queens Hotel opened on Church Road


Mid Victorian Upper Norwood

1862 Stanford (Edward), Library Map of London and its Suburbs

1863
St Saviour's Almhouses opened in Hamilton Road.

1865
High Level station opened at Crystal Palace



1867 Christ Church built on Gipsy Hill.

1870 The Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) moved to Upper Norwood.


Late Victorian Upper Norwood

1887 St John the Evangelist opened on Auckland Road. Designed in Gothic Style by John Loughborough Pearson (1817 -1897).

1895 FA Cup finals held at Park Hill Park (?) - now CP Athletics track

1898-1899
Emile Zola stayed at Queens Hotel, Upper Norwood           
He photographed the Crystal Palace




Edwardian Upper Norwood

1905 Crystal Palace FC formed (played at Palace until 1914)



1908 Map of Edwardian Norwood

1909
The Photodrome cinema opened at  65 Westow Hill

c1910 
Upper Norwood Library opened on Westow Hill.



1911 Festival of Empire at the Crystal Palace

1911
Norwood Park opened.


Upper Norwood in WW1

1914 Crystal Palace Football ground became Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve training establishment


Inter-War Upper Norwood
1922 War memorial added o corner of Westow Street and Church Road (relocated in 1956). Designed by William Butler.

1924
Crystal Palace FC moved from the Crystal Palace in Upper Norwood to The Nest in Selhurst.
Feb:  Crystal Palace FC V Notts Forest Film

1927
Speedway racing at Crystal Palace Gardens began 

1928
Rialto Cinema opened at 25 Church Road (later Granada)

1930
Albany Cinema opened at 19 Church Road (later Century)

1935
Rare film of the Crystal Palace before the fire of 1936.

1936
Crystal Palace destroyed by fire. Newsreel film



Film
1937 Motor-car racing at Crystal Palace began




Upper Norwood in WW2

1941 16 April: North towers & old aquarium demolished. Gardens requisitioned for war use.

1944-4
Flying bomb attacks



Post war Upper Norwood         

1951 Crystal Palace reopened as a LCC park

1952
Crystal Palace Zoo opened.

1954
Crystal Palace High Level Station and Branch line closed

 

1955 Croydon transmitting station opened at Beulah Hill for ITV (a new 499 ft high tower replaced it in 1962).

1956
 Crystal Palace BBC TV transmitting station opened - 708 ft high. It succeeded the Alexandra Palace transmitter.
War memorial moved to Westow Street.

1961 
Concert Bowl added to Crystal Palace Park as an outdoor stage for classical concerts.

1964 The National Sports Centre opened in Crystal Palace Park as one of five for the UK. It consisted of an athletics stadium (capacity of 15,500+) and an indoor sports building designed by Norman Engleback (1927-2015).
1967 film of the new Sport Centre

1971
Crystal Palace Garden Parties at Crystal Palace Bowl ran until 1980 as one day Rock Festivals. Groups included: Pink Floyd, Beach Boys, Lou Reed & Eric Clapton.

1974 Last motor race held in grounds of Crystal Palace Park.

1980 
Bob Marley (1945-1981) played his last concert at the Crystal Palace Bowl.

1990 
Crystal Palace Museum opened on Anerley Hill. 

1995
 Old Crystal Palace Concert Bowl demolished.

1997
 New Crystal Palace Concert Bowl added. Designed by Ian Ritchie Architects. 

2010
 Crystal Palace station now served by London Overground as well as mainline trains.


Booklist
The Phoenix Suburb - Alan Warwick (1972/RP 2009 Norwood Society)
Racing At Crystal Palace. A History Of Motorsports At London's Own Race Circuit 1927-1972
- Phillipp Parfitt (MRP 1991)
Palace of the People: The Crystal Palace at Sydenham 1854-1936 - Jan Piggott (Hurst 2004)
100 Years of Crystal Palace Football Club - Nigel Sands (NPI Media group 2005)

 

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