The £3.5 million project was funded through various sources, including the City of London Strategic Investment Pot, more than £1 million from Historic England, and generous donations from numerous individuals
The Crystal Palace Subway has been shortlisted for the highly coveted ‘Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year’ at the national Museums + Heritage Awards, following a significant restoration completed last year. This recognition, often described as ‘the Oscars of the museum world,’ is an important accolade for the newly restored subway, which has been shortlisted in a category that highlights the quality of work undertaken on restoration, repair, and conservation projects.
The careful and sympathetic restoration was led by Bromley Council, with significant local support spearheaded by the Friends of Crystal Palace Subway. The structure, one of the few remaining from the Victorian Crystal Palace complex, has now been brought back into public use as a unique, historic building. Since reopening, the subway, now run by the Crystal Palace Park Trust, has attracted around 6,000 visitors in just the first three months. It has hosted various events, including a craft market, pop-up cinema screenings, stand-up comedy, and a silent disco.
Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, expressed her enthusiasm for the nomination, “This welcome news shows once again the quality of the restoration that has been completed on the much-loved subway, which means that the incredible structure is once again available for residents and visitors to enjoy. As we keep our fingers crossed for the final, we are also pressing ahead with the wider regeneration of this historic park, to ensure that all its magnificent heritage is protected for the future, along with the thriving green spaces throughout the park.”
The restoration project was guided by expert advice from Historic England, with Bromley Council appointing architects Thomas Ford & Partners and conservation specialists DBR Limited to transform the space. The £3.5 million project was funded through various sources, including the City of London Strategic Investment Pot, more than £1 million from Historic England, and generous donations from numerous individuals.
The subway’s shortlisting follows its win of a National Railway Heritage Award late last year, further recognising the outstanding restoration work. Techniques used in the project included 3D digital technology combined with historical document research and onsite surveying to uncover obscured or lost heritage features. Highlights of the restored building include a new glass roof, reconstructed staircases, and the reuse and sourcing of heritage materials to maintain the character of the building.
The Museums + Heritage award winner will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday, 15 May. Previous winners in the subway’s category include the Old Royal Naval College’s Painted Hall and Royal Parks Brompton Cemetery, with the award delivered in partnership with Icon, the Institute of Conservation.
The subway restoration marks the first phase of a major regeneration of the park, co-delivered by Bromley Council in partnership with the Crystal Palace Park Trust. The next major stage of the works will include the restoration of the Crystal Palace dinosaurs and Italian terraces, promising to further enhance the park’s historic and cultural significance.
