Specialist regeneration works have delivered transformation in Crystal Palace Park, the hidden gem and historic landscape considered the world’s first theme park, as the works programme concludes.
Specialist regeneration works have delivered transformation in Crystal Palace Park, the hidden gem and historic landscape considered the world’s first theme park, as the works programme concludes.
The removal of the world-famous Crystal Palace Dinosaurs and Geological Court from Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register is one of the major successes of the project, which started last year. It is the largest regeneration programme delivered in the park since the Crystal Palace was destroyed in 1936.
The Victorian sculptures have been carefully restored and painted in line with their original colours, meaning their appearance is as close to what the public would have seen 172 years ago.
The thirty sculptures were the world’s first life-sized models of extinct creatures. They were intended to communicate the ground-breaking fossil discoveries being made by Victorian-era palaeontologists to the public – to inspire wonder as well as to educate.
When unveiled to the public as one of many attractions for visitors to the Crystal Palace, the sculptures sparked the world’s first wave of ‘dino mania’. Today they are Grade I listed in recognition of their exceptional role in the history of science. They were added to the Heritage at Risk Register in 2020, due to large cracks appearing in some of the animals’ bodies and limbs, putting them in danger of losing toes, teeth and tails.
Co-delivered by Bromley Council and Crystal Palace Park Trust, the regeneration works are a critical step in building the Grade II* park’s status as a globally significant cultural and heritage visitor attraction. Its special green spaces continue to be loved by communities in Bromley and the four other surrounding South London Boroughs.
The works were funded by the sale of land adjacent to the park for affordable housing and a £5m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players. Further match funding was also received from the Garfield Weston Foundation, London Marathon Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation and Pilgrim Trust.
Alongside the restoration of the Dinosaurs and their landscape, the project has delivered:
- the creation of a new, destination Dinosaur Playground.
- restoration of the Grade II-listed Italian Terraces upon which the architectural masterpiece, the Crystal Palace, sat when the park was created as its permanent home in 1854.
- a new Visitor Centre housing a permanent exhibition bringing to life all 170 years of history in the park.
- restoration of the Grand Centre Walk, one of the defining aspects of the park’s original landscape design.
- reinstatement of the bust of the park’s visionary founder, Sir Joseph Paxton, in its original position overlooking the park.
- improved footpaths, lighting and wayfinding around the Tidal Lakes and Italian Terraces, including the creation of two new accessible routes across the steep upper slopes of the park.
- the introduction of sustainable drainage systems in key areas of the park to improve water management.
- extensive planting to increase biodiversity and improve habitats for wildlife including birds and bats.
The works have been completed by construction company, Maylim, in collaboration with HTA Design as the Landscape Architect and Lead consultant of a large multidisciplinary team of specialists. Expert advice from Historic England was vital to informing the restoration of the dinosaur sculptures, just as it was for the impressive restoration of the Grade II* Listed Subway – one of the original gateways to the Palace - which reopened in September 2024. The dedication and enthusiasm of the local community, particularly through the Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, was also crucial to the Dinosaur restoration, with expertise and archival information provided throughout.
Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, said: “Our regeneration plan has always been about securing this historic park for the future and when you look at the incredible transformation that we have delivered, that future is looking brighter than ever. I hope residents and visitors enjoy exploring the stunning restored heritage and the host of new improvements across the park, which will be taken into the next chapter of its history under the careful custodianship of our partners Crystal Palace Park Trust.”
Victoria Pinnington, CEO of Crystal Palace Park Trust, said: “With this major regeneration project now complete we’re thrilled to ‘throw open the gates’ so that the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs and wider park can do their job inspiring joy, wonder and curiosity among visitors, just as the park’s visionary founder, Sir Joseph Paxton, always intended. This September marks the third anniversary of the Trust’s custodianship of the park. We look forward to caring for these internationally significant 200 acres, and all 12 listed assets within them, for the enjoyment of many generations to come.”
Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, Co-CEO Historic England said: “These sculptures were built by the Victorians to model how they understood prehistoric animals to look at a time when they were asking big questions about the origins of life on Earth. They are internationally important in the history of science and loved by people around the world.
“The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs were added to our Heritage at Risk Register in 2020 due to concerns about their structural stability and deterioration, but these masterpieces are now fully restored and their colours vibrant again.
This project has involved a wide range of experts to record the sculptures and inform the best course of repair and conservation. Thanks to the hard work of the Crystal Palace Park Trust, Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, London Borough of Bromley, Sally Strachey Historic Conservation, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Garfield Weston Foundation, these dinosaurs are no longer at risk of extinction.”
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Crystal Palace Park has been a much-loved part of London life for generations, connecting people and communities with nature, culture, sport and outstanding heritage. We are incredibly proud that our funding has helped secure the future of its world-famous dinosaurs, restoring these remarkable Victorian landmarks and ensuring that they can be valued and enjoyed by future generations.
“Thanks to National Lottery players we’ve been able to work in partnership, bringing together Bromley Council, Crystal Palace Park Trust, Historic England and many community groups and local voices who care for heritage and cherish this vital green space. It has created more opportunities for people to connect with the park from nature walks to a new dinosaur themed playground - so that it will continue to inspire, educate and welcome visitors.”
Crystal Palace Park Celebrates, a special weekend of events and performances marking the end of the regeneration, is taking place on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July. To kick off the festivities, the Mayor of Bromley will be opening the new Visitor Centre at 9:45am with residents welcome to attend.
Ends
For media enquiries, please contact James George, Senior Public Affairs Officer, on 020 8313 4565 or email james.george@bromley.gov.uk and Alex Milward, Head of Audiences and Communications, alex.milward@crystalpalaceparktrust.org
Editors notes
About Crystal Palace Park Trust
Crystal Palace Park Trust is a registered charity. As the park’s custodians, we are dedicated to caring for this special and historic landscape, as well as offering a warm welcome to over one million visitors every year. We also provide a vibrant, year-round public programme, inspired by Sir Joseph Paxton’s founding vision for the park as a place of wonder, fun, inspiration and awe.
www.crystalpalaceparktrust.org.uk
Follow @crystalpalaceparktrust on LinkedIn, and Instagram, Facebook
About Historic England
We are Historic England, the public body that protects and brings life to the heritage that matters to us all, so it lives on and is loved for longer. From the extraordinary to the everyday, our historic places and spaces matter. From community centres to cathedrals, homes to high streets, markets to mills – there are special places we all choose to hold onto, the legacy we want to pass on and the stories we continue to tell. That’s why we work together with people across England to discover, protect and bring new life to our shared historic environment, providing advice, knowledge, support and services. Follow us on social media @HistoricEngland.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund