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CHARLES HUNTRISS - LETTERS HOME

A visit to Crystal Palace

I had a very nice day at the Crystal Palace on Monday and we stayed to see the fireworks which were very good. We all got the holidays. I bought several things there - a very little box of dominoes for Daw and brooch for Jess in the shape ...

... of a bird flying and this little knife for Polly amd a India rubber face for Bellly rather like Anne and don't tell Mr Hardcastle I have bought him a shilling spectacle case and I bought several other things for myself and others. I forgot that you said in your letter that Harold was to tell you all about Crystal Palace or I would not have written tonight.

I would send Jess her brooch but it would make the letter too heavy.

And now with best love to all I remain your affectionate son

PS There was a bonfire in the heath on Monday and we saw some rockets go up while were in bed.

The Crystal Palace was a cast iron and plate glass structure, originally built in Hyde Park, London, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. The exhibition took place from 1 May to 15 October 1851, and more than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in its 990,000 square feet (92,000 m2) exhibition space to display examples of technology developed in the Industrial Revolution.

After the exhibition, the Palace was relocated to an area of South London known as Penge Common. It was rebuilt at the top of Penge Peak next to Sydenham Hill, an affluent suburb of large villas. It stood there from June 1854 until its destruction by fire in November 1936.

A postcard showing Crystal Palace in Sydenham