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Crystal Palace history
Crystal Palace Aquarium Co Ltd
16th May 1870
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The aquarium was briefly the largest of its type in the world, holding 120,000 gallons of seawater, of which 100,000 gallons were held in large reservoirs below floor level. There were 60 tanks in all, of which 38 were for the public and the rest for private research. At any one time over 300 species were on display. The aquarium was built on part of the site left vacant by the 1866 Crystal Palace fire and was a popular fad of the day – a the first public aquaria had been set up by Phillip Gosse at London Zoo in 1853.
What made the Crystal Palace Aquarium special was the fact that it was a marine and not a freshwater exhibit. No one before had created a working marine aquarium of this scale and diversity. The Crystal Palace was lucky to secure the services of William Alford Lloyd, the leading aquarist of his day, who developed a system of continuous circulation of the water, which was kept in the dark as much as possible and at strictly governed temperatures. Machinery to achieve this was doubled up to ensure the continuous flow. Excavations of the reservoirs have also shown that declivities were built into the system. These were designed to increase the ‘scouring’ action of the water and make the system as natural as possible. The rock face extant in tank 18a is also significant and probably the only one of its type left from this period.
Although not a commercial success, the site is regarded throughout the aquarium world for its technical merit and innovation. Excavations have yielded samples of the vulcanite piping that the water ran through, which was quite cutting edge for its day but necessary, as seawater could not travel through metal conduit. Charles Darwin is said to have been a regular visitor.
The aquarium was a considerable success until the 1890's when the popularity of marine life gave way to a menagerie of monkeys who occupied the now empty fish tanks.
When the Crystal Palace was destroyed by fire in 1936 the north end was not so badly affected, but in April 1941 the north tower was dynamited, destroying the north wing and a large section of the aquarium.
The remains of Crystal Palace aquarium are located at the end of Old Cople Lane.
The Crystal Palace Foundation, Crystal Palace Museum the Caravan Harbour, Castle Communications and Thames Water co-operated in 2003 to name the previously unamed lane at the junction Crystal Palace Parade and Westwood Hill.
Bromley Council agreed to the The Crystal Palace Foundation suugestion to name the road 'Old Cople Lane'. This is the early eighteenth century name by which the lane was known before the Crystal Palace arrived in 1854.
A 'cople' is an old French word meaning 'couple'.
Site workers from the Crystal Palace Foundation have been involved with the excavation of the Aquarium since the early 1980s. Much about the history of the site and its significance in the world of aquaria has been gleaned in this time, and the learning process continues.
The Crystal Palace Foundation is keen to conserve and preserve what is left of the site (approx 25% of the original) in its current form. It has a place both in the history of the Crystal Palace and the world of aquaria and is, of course, one of the more tangible parts of what still remains.
More information is available upon request.
Copyright Crystal Palace Foundation 2009
Compiled By Martin Frelford, Stephen West and Melvyn Harrison
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