The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-16 00:00:00

The Alexandra Palace at Muewell-hill.

If in the selection of the'site for the erection of the Crys-
tal Palace at Sydenham one of the most elevated and com-
manding spots in the county of Surrey was sought to be
attained as a justification for its removal from so great a
distance from the metropolis, nothing can bo more appro-
priate to a building devoted to somewhat similar objects
than that obtained for the Alexandra Palace at Muswell
Hill, which is loss than half that distance from the very
centre of the metropolitan population.
Muswell Hill, on the highest pinnacle of which the
Alexandra Palace may now be seen rising in its noble pro-
portions from all sides of the metropolitan county, is in all
probability, with the exception of Harrow, the most lofty
point of land in Middlesex, and without doubt it commands
I possibly as extensive, if not the most extensive, at all events
the most diversified views of town and country.of any spot
in the kingdom; and when completed, a result which we are
assured may speedily be looked forward to, the most mag-
nificent panorama of the vastest hive of in lustry and com-
merce which the world ever saw rill he opened to the sight
from the extensive terraces and galleries of the Alexandra
Palace. In combination with the panorama of the leviathan
metropolis of the Empire, on the extreme south, the
Surrey Hills, with the outline of the Crystal Palace and its
water towers, on a clear fine day are brought prominently
to view, whilst to the eastward may be observed that which
it may be hoped may in a short time again be designated as
the silvery Thames,"
meandering between the shores
of Kent and Essex, along which Shooter's Hill, Erith, and
as far as Gravesend and Sheerness, are at times distinctly
visible in its onward course to its outlet at the Nore into
the German Ocean. Westward the heights of Highgate
and of Hampstead somewhat impede an extensive view,
in that direction, but passing more northwardly, by
"Harrow on the Hill," the prominent points of the counties
of Bucks and Berks, even extending to 'Windsor Castle,
present themselves, whilst further northward and eastward
extensive and pleasant views are obtained of the counties
of Essex and Hertfordshire. So far as site then is con-
cerned, nothing can bo left to be desired beyond what has
been attained for that which wo think we are correct in
saying was originally designated as the " people's palace,"
but which, in compliment to the beloved consort of the
Prince of Wales, has now been rechristened as the " Alex-
andra" Park and Palace at Muswell Hill. The project was
originally inaugurated (and the writer of this notice per-
fectly well remembers being present at the splendid sum-
mer entertainment on the site where the " Alexandra "
Palace now stands) by no less a personage and friend of
the people than the venerable Lord Brougham. Many will
remember who were present on that memorable occasion,
no doubt, the practical and spirit-stirring address which
that noble and venerable peer made on the advantages
which these places of recreative instruction conferred upon
the community at large—in the elevation of their minds in
the moral and social scale, by bringing them at the same
time in communion with all that is beautiful and sublime,
whether in connection with works of art or works of nature.
Nothing, it is believed, will more closely approach perfec-
tion in both these attributes than the Alexandra Palace
and its site at Muswell Hill, when finally completed.
So much for the site. The next points of importance are
the proximity of such an establishment to the metropolis,
and the facilities for reaching it. By the Great Northern
Railway to Wood Green, the station on which Alexandra
Park abuts, is but a little over a distance of four miles from
King's-cross, and when the various lines in connection
therewith form, as they will do by their platforms, part and
part of the Palace station, the facilities for reaching the
Alexandra Palace from all parts of the metropolis will prove
unexceptionable ; and if travelling by road be preferred,
then the spot is but an inconsiderable distance beyond the
four mile radius at Hornsoy. As regards the building it-
self, after considerable mishaps and difficulties, and the
failure of one or two companies, the matter has at last been
taken up by a spirited body of individuals, and is being
carried out by men of known wealth and practical expe-
rience, and the building itself is so rapidly approaching
towards completion, that, if deemed advisable, it is in a
position to enable it to be opened to the public in the course
of the forthcoming summer. In the face, however, of the
attractions of the Paris Exhibition this year, and other cir-
cumstances, we believe we are correct in stating that it is
not contemplated that its actual inauguration shall take
place till the spring of 1868, by which time it is believed
the railways and all other accessories for convenient transit
and comfort to the public will be in full working order.
It may not be generally known that the skeleton of the
building which will be hereafter handed to posterity as the
"Alexandra" Palace has been erected from the materials of
the late Exhibition of 1862 at South Kensington, the design
of which by the late Captain Fowko, R.E., was the subject
of so much criticism and controversy. The architects aro
Messrs. Alfred Meeson and John Johnson, the former of
whom was associated with the late Captain Fowko in car-
rying out the details of the 1.862 Exhibition building, and
the contractors for its erection are the well-known firms of
Messrs. Kelk and Lucas Brothers, who have a staff of
workmen in the building and grounds running very little
short, if any, of 1,000 men, exclusive of an immense num-
ber of other artisans employed in the workshops of the con-
tractors, and engaged in the preparation of the internal fit-
ting required for the edifice. The present design is a modi-
fication of the old building, but so added to and altered as
almost entirely to obliterate its original architectural
character, and to appropriate it to the new situation and
purposes for which it is intended. The architectural
order to which the Alexandra Palace belongs may be pro-
perly described as Italian, and its details are being carried
out in a manner which will in all probability render it as a
permanent structure one of the most noble edifices of its
description in this country. As regards the plan of
the building, it consists of a nave 900 feet long and 8
feet wide, with a central transept 430 feet long and
85 feet wide, and two smaller transepts, each 320 feet long
and 80 feet wide, intersecting the nave at a short distance
from either end of the building east and west. Over tho
intersection of the nave and central transept is erected one
of the great domes of 1862, which forms the central and
grand summit of the building. This dome is 220 feet in
height in the interior, and in diameter 170 feet. Much of
the glass which existed in its construction at South Ken-
sington has been removed and substituted by solid roof,
the interior of which will be, when finished, executed in
highly decorated and ornamental panels, a subdued though
fully sufficient light being admitted near the top of the
dome, and by lunette windows round its sides. The shorter
transepts at their intersection with the nave are surmounted
by a pendentive octagon cupola, lighted by eight ornamen-
tal windows in the sides, finished by a bold enriched cor-
nice and panelled ceiling and pendant. Each end of the
nave and the three transepts are terminated with large
semicircularleaded windows, which when finally com-
pleted are to be filled with stained glass. On each side of
the nave and transept buildings are erected about 50 feet
wide and two stories high, having brick external walls,
with arcaded openings and windows. Externally the ends
of the nave and transepts present eight grand pendimented
façades, flanked by supporting turrets, enclosing the large
windows before described, and having handsome arcaded
entrances. These façades are united by the walls of the
lower buildings, two stories in height, and by the coleetory
walls and roofs of the nave and transepts, and the whole is
terminated by a bold and very effective brick and cement
cornice, and by exceedingly ornamental parapets. The
general character of the architecture of the entire building

externally is Italian, and consists principally of brickwork
in two colours, viz., white or yellowish white bricks for the
mass, with red brick arches and Portland cement dressings
. . . .

in imitation of stone. The white bricks, it is stated, are manu-
factured in the adjacent county of llertfordshire, and aro
considered to be of a very superior description, in fact not
inferior to Suffolk bricks, whilst the red bricks are produced
from the clay, and are made on ground in close vicinity to
the palace, and are also considered of a very superior
quality. The roofs are covered with " Duchess" slating,
laid on two-inch boards and asphalted felt, and zinc nails
are used throughout the slating. Above the roofs and from
the centre of the building is a bold, twelve-sided tambour,
pierced with windows, and surmounted with a cornice and
, when completed, wil.
entablature. From this spring the base of the great cen-
tral dome, which is terminated at the top by a balustraded
risepttr a parapet, from
mrthmeacset to centre of h
which
dome is covered with 3luntz's brass-coloured metal, laid on
with a lap and tongue in a peculiar manner, and panelled in
relief by moulded ribs. The octagon cupolas forming the
summit of the building at the intersection of the smaller
transepts and nave also show above the roof noble tambours
with entablature and cornice, and an Italian roof covered
with zinc in rolls, and terminating with an ornamental final
and spire, which, when finished, will bo gilt. The building
is surrounded on all sides, and approached by magnificent
terraces, which, in addition to the artistic taste with which,
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the grounds of the park attached to the palace. Possibly the
most noble terrace will be that on the northern side, which
is 1,003 feet long and 100 feet wide ; and_which by means
of being supported by Italian arcades will cover the railway
station, from which access will be had direct to the build-
ing- This access will be obtained directly at the ends of
the three transepts, and into which station, judging from
the preparations already in progress, it is expected that
nearly, if not every railway in London will, at no distant
period, have trains running for the convenienceof visitors to
the palace. On the southern and western sides there will be
a carriage roadway,
with a covered carriage entrance, form-
ing at tho same time a conservatory at the we,tern end (Atha

nave and communicating by an easy drive with the public
road. This, then, may 1)0 taliou as a fair description of the
architectural as well as general character of the Alexandra
Palace externally ; but it lama be borne in mind that
among others of the .important features connected with this
gigantic undertaking the peculiar beauties of the park have
to be brought into consideration, and also in connection
therewith that which will be looked upon by a very large
section of the community in all probability as the crowning
advantage of this magnificent design, viz., that its slopes
and terraces will command a perfect view of one of the
fin

est race courses in the kingdom. It will not be surpris-
ng in a few years to find that the doings of Epsom and
Doncaster, of Brighton and of Goodwood, aro completely
thrown into the shade by those of the Great Metropolitan
Races of Alexandra Park; Proposing to make the interior