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Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).


       *       *       *       *       *

[Illustration: Transverse Section of the Building, showing the Interior
completed.]




The

Crystal Palace:

Its

Architectural History

and

Constructive Marvels.

By

Peter Berlyn, and Charles Fowler, Junr.

London:

James Gilbert, Paternoster Row.

mdcccli.


----




PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION BY

JAMES GILBERT, 49 PATERNOSTER ROW,

(UNIFORM WITH THE PRESENT VOLUME),

The Curiosities and Wonders

contained within

The Crystal Palace.

BY

PETER BERLYN, ESQ.

Illustrated by Several Hundred Engravings.

----




[Illustration]

TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT,

The Following Pages,

DESCRIPTIVE OF

THE ARCHITECTURAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE MARVELS OF

THE STOREHOUSE OF THE WORLD'S WONDERS

OF ART, SCIENCE, AND MANUFACTURE,

ARE, BY PERMISSION, MOST HUMBLY DEDICATED,

AS A SLIGHT TRIBUTE

OF THE ADMIRATION AND GRATITUDE

WHICH, IN COMMON WITH THE WHOLE CIVILIZED WORLD,

ARE AMPLY SHARED IN BY

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS'S

MOST DEVOTED, FAITHFUL, AND OBEDIENT SERVANT,

                    THE PUBLISHER.

----




Contents.


                                                                      PAGE.
  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS                                                    1
  COMMITTEE FOR ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE BUILDING                      2
  LABOURS OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE                                       3
  THE COMPETITION DESIGNS                                                 6
  BUILDINGS USED FOR PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS IN FRANCE, GERMANY, AND
      ENGLAND                                                            15
  DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE'S DESIGN                         21
  OPPOSITION TO THIS DESIGN                                              24
  THE TENDERS                                                            24
  HISTORY OF MR. PAXTON'S DESIGN                                         27
  GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING                                    33
  THE PAXTON'S GUTTERS                                                   40
  THE SASH-BARS                                                          44
  THE RIDGES                                                             46
  THE GLASS                                                              46
  THE BOX GUTTERS                                                        47
  THE ROOF GIRDERS                                                       47
  THE IRON DRILLING MACHINE                                              49
  THE PUNCHING MACHINE                                                   50
  THE ADZING AND PLANING MACHINE                                         51
  THE COLUMNS AND CONNECTING-PIECES                                      52
  THE BASE-PIECES                                                        53
  THE CAST-IRON GIRDERS                                                  54
  THE GALLERIES                                                          55
  TESTING THE CAST-IRON GIRDERS                                          55
  ROOF OF TRANSEPT                                                       58
  THE FACEWORK                                                           59
  THE DIAGONAL BRACING                                                   60
  THE STAIRCASES                                                         60
  THE FLOOR AND FOUNDATIONS                                              62
  FIRST OPERATIONS ON THE GROUND                                         63
  SETTING-OUT THE GROUND                                                 64
  FIXING THE BASE-PLATES                                                 65
  HENDERSON'S DERRICK CRANE                                              67
  RAISING AND FIXING THE COLUMNS AND GIRDERS                             68
  HOISTING THE ROOF TRUSSES                                              69
  PROVISION FOR EXPANSION OF GIRDERS                                     70
  GLAZING THE ROOF                                                       71
  STAGE FOR REPAIRING THE GLASS, ETC.                                    73
  HOISTING THE RIBS FOR TRANSEPT ROOF                                    73
  GLAZING THE TRANSEPT ROOF                                              76
  THE PAINTING                                                           76
  THE HAND-RAIL MACHINE                                                  78
  GENERAL VIEW OF THE WORKS                                              79
  PAYING THE WORKMEN                                                     80
  GENERAL STATISTICS                                                     82
  THE PARTI- PAINTING                                            83
  THE WATER SUPPLY                                                       87
  THE STABILITY OF THE BUILDING                                          87
  TESTING THE GALLERIES                                                  88
  GENERAL ADVANTAGES OF THE BUILDING                                     89
  CONCLUSION                                                             89

  APPENDIX:--
  LIST OF COMPETITORS FOR THE BUILDING                                    i
  LIST A.--COMPETITORS ENTITLED TO FAVOURABLE MENTION                    vi
  LIST B.--COMPETITORS ENTITLED TO FURTHER HIGHER HONORARY
      DISTINCTION                                                      viii
  THE TWO COMPETITION DESIGNS SPECIALLY MENTIONED BY THE BUILDING
      COMMITTEE                                                          ix
  MEMORANDUM ON THE SITE                                                 xi
  REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSIONERS, PRESENTED TO HER MAJESTY ON THE
      OPENING OF THE BUILDING                                          xvii




List of Illustrations.



                                                                      PAGE.
  TRANSVERSE SECTION OF THE BUILDING, SHOWING THE
      INTERIOR COMPLETED--                                  _frontispiece_.
  PLAN OF THE BUILDING FOR THE FRENCH EXPOSITION IN 1849                 16
  VIEW OF THE PRINCIPAL ENTRANCE OF THE SAME                             17
  INTERIOR VIEW OF THE "PALACE"                                          18
  INTERIOR VIEW OF THE CATTLE-SHED                                       19
  VIEW OF KROLL'S WINTERGARTEN AT BERLIN                        _facing_ 19
  PLAN OF KROLL'S WINTERGARTEN                                           20
  VIEW OF THE BIRMINGHAM EXPOSITION BUILDING                             20
  GROUND-PLAN OF THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE           _facing_ 22
  EXTERIOR VIEW OF THE SAME                                     _facing_ 24
  COMMON MODE OF GLAZING ROOFS                                           28
  METHOD BY RIDGE AND FURROW                                             29
  CUTTERS OF MR. PAXTON'S SASH-BAR MACHINE                               30
  THE VICTORIA REGIA HOUSE, CHATSWORTH                                   32
  INTERIOR OF THE SAME                                                   33
  GROUND-PLAN OF THE BUILDING FOR THE EXHIBITION                         34
  VIEW OF ONE 24-FEET SQUARE BAY OF ROOF PARTLY COMPLETED                36
  PORTION OF THE LOWER STOREY OF THE PRINCIPAL ELEVATIONS                37
  VIEW OF THE INTERIOR OF THE TRANSEPT                          _facing_ 38
  VIEW OF GLASS ROOF FROM THE LEAD FLAT                         _facing_ 39
  GENERAL VIEW OF THE BUILDING FROM THE SOUTH-WEST              _facing_ 40
  THE EXTERNAL RAILING                                                   40
  SECTION OF THE PAXTON'S GUTTER, WITH THE STRONG SASH-BAR               41
  THE CIRCULAR PLANING MACHINE                                           41
  PORTION OF THE SAME SHOWING DETAIL                                     41
  SECTIONS OF THE PAXTON'S GUTTER, SHOWING DIFFERENT STAGES IN THE
      MACHINE                                                            42
  THE GUTTER-CUTTING MACHINE                                             42
  MACHINE FOR FINISHING ENDS OF GUTTERS AND RIDGES                       43
  MACHINE FOR CUTTING OUT SASH-BARS                                      44
  THE SASH-BAR DRILLING MACHINE                                          45
  PORTION OF THE SAME, ENLARGED                                          46
  SECTION OF THE RIDGES, ETC                                             46
  DIAGRAM OF 48-FEET GIRDER                                              48
  DIAGRAM OF 72-FEET GIRDER                                              48
  THE IRON DRILLING MACHINE                                              50
  THE PUNCHING MACHINE AND SHEARS                                        50
  THE ADZING-CUTTERS                                                     51
  THE ADZING AND PLANING MACHINE                                         52
  SECTION OF A COLUMN                                                    52
  A BASE-PIECE                                                           54
  VIEW OF THE INTERIOR FROM THE LEVEL OF GALLERIES              _facing_ 55
  FRAME AND HYDRAULIC PRESS FOR TESTING THE GIRDERS                      56
  INTERIOR VIEW OF THE CENTRAL AVENUE TOWARDS THE WEST          _facing_ 58
  LOUVRE FRAME                                                           60
  VIEW OF STAIRCASE                                                      61
  FIXING CAST-IRON DRAIN-PIPE                                            62
  VIEW OF CRANE AND PROVING-PRESS                                        66
  HENDERSON'S DERRICK CRANE                                              67
  PORTIONS OF THE SAME                                                   67
  FIXING THE GIRDERS                                                     68
  GENERAL VIEW OF THE WORKS IN PROGRESS                         _facing_ 69
  HOISTING THE 72-FEET TRUSSES                                           70
  GLAZING-WAGGON FOR FLAT ROOF                                           72
  A PAIR OF RIBS PREPARED FOR RAISING                                    74
  HOISTING THE RIBS FOR THE TRANSEPT ROOF                       _facing_ 75
  STAGE FOR GLAZING TRANSEPT ROOF                                        76
  THE SASH-BAR PAINTING MACHINE                                          77
  PORTION OF THE SAME IN DETAIL                                          77
  THE HAND-RAIL CUTTING MACHINE                                          78
  PORTION OF THE SAME                                                    78
  THE BRASS TICKETS FOR WORKMEN                                          80
  THE INTERIOR OF THE PAY-OFFICE                                         81
  THE MEN TAKING THEIR WAGES                                             81
  THE WORKMEN WAITING TO BE PAID                                         82
  VIEW OF THE BUILDING FROM THE NORTH BANK OF THE SERPENTINE    _facing_ 86
  TESTING AN EXPERIMENTAL BAY OF THE GALLERY FLOOR              _facing_ 88
  VIEW OF THE BOILER-HOUSE, ETC.                                _facing_ 88
  VIEW OF SOUTH FRONT OF THE BUILDING                                    92

      APPENDIX:--
  EXTERIOR VIEW OF MONS. HOREAU'S DESIGN FOR THE BUILDING       _facing_ ix
  INTERIOR OF THE SAME                                          _facing_ ix
  VIEW OF EXTERIOR FROM ONE END OF MESSRS. TURNERS' DESIGN
      FOR THE BUILDING                                          _facing_  x
  TRANSVERSE SECTION AND VIEW OF THE INTERIOR OF THE SAME       _facing_  x




INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.


So much has already been said and written, both wisely and well, upon the
marvellous edifice which has just been reared with such magical rapidity to
enshrine the results of the skill and industry of all nations, that it
would appear an almost hopeless task to present the subject in any new
point of view to the reader.

If, therefore, the authors cannot lay claim to novelty or originality in
the execution of the pleasurable work which they have undertaken, they are
not without hopes that, from their having been connected with this gigantic
undertaking during the greater part of its progress, they will be enabled
to trace in a more detailed and consecutive manner than has yet been
attempted the history of the design and execution of the building up to the
period of its completion.

A great deal has been lately said upon the want of distinctive character in
almost all the buildings of the present day; and it is certainly a striking
fact that in scarcely any of our important modern structures does the
exterior appearance in any way lead the spectator to form an idea of the
purposes or arrangement of the interior, the former being apparently
governed by fancy, or the fashion for some particular style, while the
latter only, is accommodated to the peculiar requirements of the case. Thus
we have porticos which do not shelter from the weather, or in which no one
is allowed to walk; Venetian palaces appear piled upon a substructure of
plate-glass; baronial castles prove to be model prisons; and
richly-decorated mansions, from the time of "Good Queen Bess," or fanciful
Italian villas, are made to serve for the accommodation of paupers.

The ancients appear to have been more careful in this respect, so that the
form and external arrangement afforded in most cases a ready key to the
purposes of their structures. Their temples, their fora, theatres and
amphitheatres, baths, and other public edifices, seem each to have been
stamped with their own characteristic features, at the same time without in
any way producing a monotonous uniformity among the different examples of
the same class of building.

Now, if this criterion of excellence be applied to the remarkable building
recently erected in Hyde Park, it will be found that the constructive
arrangement of the interior is plainly expressed without, and it must be
conceded that it possesses at least those elements of beauty arising from
consistency and simplicity which, in combination with its vast size, give
it also that of grandeur. That it is faultless it would be needless to
assert, or to imagine that, from its example, a new style of architecture
will originate; but that it is admirably suited to its purpose, that it is
a remarkable specimen of the constructive skill of this country, and that
it will certainly form one of the most interesting objects of the Great
Exhibition by which it has been called into being, if not the most
interesting of all, must, we think, be admitted by all candid observers.

Although the building in its present form was designed, as well as carried
out, in a singularly short space of time, this could not have been
accomplished but for the great amount of thought and labour which had been
previously bestowed upon the subject. In order, therefore, to trace the
whole of the progress of the design, it will be necessary briefly to advert
to the early labours bestowed upon the project.

On the 5th of January, 1850, the Royal Commission for carrying out this
great scheme was gazetted; its first and second meetings, which were
respectively held on the 11th and 18th of the same month, were entirely
devoted to preliminary arrangements, and determining the mode of conducting
its proceedings.

Among the most urgent matters calling for the attention of the
Commissioners, the subject of the building early presented itself, as it
was of the utmost importance that the longest possible time should be
allowed for its erection; and, accordingly, at the third meeting, held on
the 24th of January, the following noblemen and gentlemen were appointed to
act as a

Committee for all Matters relating to the Building.

  His Grace the Duke of BUCCLEUCH, K.G., F.R.S.
  The Right Hon. the Earl of ELLESMERE, F.S.A.
  CHARLES BARRY, Esq., R.A., F.R.S.
  WILLIAM CUBITT, Esq., F.R.S., Pr. of J.C.E.
  ROBERT STEPHENSON, Esq., M.P., F.R.S.
  C. R. COCKERELL, Esq., R.A.
  I. K. BRUNEL, Esq., F.R.S.
  THOMAS L. DONALDSON, Esq., M.I.B.A.

From which list it will be seen that some of the very highest professional
talent in the country was enlisted on behalf of the undertaking.




Labours of the Building Committee.


The first point to be ascertained by this Committee was where to find an
eligible site; for although they were not able at that early stage of their
labours to determine the exact amount of space that would be required, they
appear to have been of opinion that, from the general data before them,
about sixteen acres would be necessary--an amount which has been
subsequently considerably exceeded, but which was already an enormous area
to be covered by one building; and in dealing with it the Committee must
have felt that a very heavy amount of responsibility rested upon them, as
appears, indeed, from their recommendation to the Royal Commission given
below.

After about a month of attentive deliberation, the Committee made a report
upon this part of their labours.

With regard to the site, it had appeared to the Committee that--firstly,
the north-eastern portion of Hyde Park; secondly, the long space between
her Majesty's private road and the Kensington road, in the southern part of
Hyde Park; and thirdly, the north-western portion of Regent's Park, were
the only available spaces about the metropolis which would afford the
necessary accommodation; and it was believed that the order in which they
were named represented also their relative eligibility. As regarded the
first, the Committee had been informed by the Chief Commissioner of her
Majesty's Woods and Forests that considerable objections would arise to its
occupation for such a purpose, and that no such objections would be raised
to the use of the second; and the Committee, therefore, recommended the
adoption of this site, which, amongst other advantages, is remarkable for
the facility of access afforded by the existing roads.

As regarded the extent of the building, the Committee were not yet in
possession of sufficient data to enable them to determine this accurately,
but, from such information as they had before them, they thought that it
might be assumed, for the present, that about sixteen acres of covered
space would be required.

And finally, as regarded the mode of proceeding to determine the general
interior arrangements or ground-plan of the building, a subject to which
they had given much consideration, they resolved, "That, in their opinion,
it was desirable to seek, by public competition, for suggestions as to the
general arrangements of the ground-plan of the building."

It was deemed by the Committee that the peculiar object for which the
building was required, namely, the encouragement of the widest and most
liberal competition in all the branches of arts and manufactures--the
circumstance of the cost of the erection being defrayed by the public--the
peculiar character of the building, for the designing of which were
especially required judgment and contrivance in the detail of arrangement,
and experience in the management of large crowds, and for the construction
of which the mechanical skill and knowledge of the application and of the
economical use of materials now so generally possessed by builders and
practical men were necessary--all seemed, in the opinion of the Committee,
to be reasons for recommending that the designs for the general
arrangements should, as far as practicable,