Alexandra Palace, London, Muswell Hill Building, Photo, Architecture, Picture, Architect, Design
Alexandra Palace Building
Ally Pally : Key Architecture in north London, England – design by Owen Jones
22 Aug 2009
Alexandra Palace
‘Ally Pally’
Location: Wood Green / Muswell Hill, north London
Date built: 1873
Design: Owen Jones, Architect
Address: Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY, England, UK
Phone: 020 8365 2121
Facilities: exhibition + conference centre ; ice-skating rink
Alexandra Palace television station radio tower still in use
Status: Grade II listed building
Alexandra Palace is an entertainment venue in Alexandra Park. It is located between Muswell Hill and Wood Green, in the north of the city. It was originally opened in 1873 but rebuilt in 1875 following a destructive fire. It was designed to serve as a public centre of recreation, education and entertainment and as north London’s counterpart to The Crystal Palace in south London.
Intended as “The People’s Palace” and later nicknamed “Ally Pally” (allegedly by Gracie Fields), in 1936 it became the home of the world’s first regular public “high-definition” television service, operated by the BBC. Alexandra Palace television station was located on the site and its radio tower is still in use. The original studios ‘A’ and ‘B’ still survive in the south-east wing with their producers’ galleries and are used for exhibiting original historical television equipment. The original Victorian theatre with its stage machinery also survives. The theatre and stage structure is on English Heritage’s ‘Buildings at Risk’ register. Alexandra Palace became a grade II listed building in 1996, at the instigation of Hornsey Historical Society (against the opposition of trustee Haringey London Borough Council); an application was made in 2007 by the Society and the BBC to upgrade its listing from its current grade.
A planned commercial development of the building into a mixed leisure complex including a hotel, replacement ice-skating rink, cinema, ten-pin bowling alley and exhibition centre, encountered opposition from public groups and was blocked by the High Court in 2007. The Great Hall and West Hall are typically used for exhibitions, music concerts and conferences. There is also a pub, ice rink and palm court.
Source: wikipedia
Location: Alexandra Palace, London, England, UK
London Buildings
Contemporary London Architecture
London Architecture Designs – chronological list
Architecture Walking Tours in London by e-architect
Building to the west of Alexandra Palace:
St James Church, St James Lane, Muswell Hill
photo © Nick Weall
Building to the south of Ally Pally:
Hornsey Town Hall, Crouch End
Reginald Uren
photo © Adrian Welch
Hornsey Town Hall
North London buildings : Camden
Comments / photos for the Alexandra Palace London – Architecture Photos page welcome
Website: www.alexandrapalace.com