Victorian England’s Fairy Palace
As I’m working on my romantic fantasy novel series (Fae of the Crystal Palace) set around the Great Exhibition, I wanted to share some interesting stories and facts I’ve uncovered during my research. Here is the story of the The Crystal Palace and its creator.
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a remarkable architectural achievement that was designed and built to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. Joseph Paxton, who was later knighted, was a gardener and horticulturist, and famously sketched his design for the palace during a visit to Hyde Park (the sketch is now held in the Victoria and Albert Museum). The sketch included all the key elements of the building, and within a fortnight all calculations and detailed plans were completed.
The Crystal Palace was a large, modular building made of iron and glass, and was one of the first examples of prefabricated architecture. Paxton used prefabricated components, such as cast iron girders and glazed panels, that were manufactured off-site and then assembled on-site. This allowed for a much faster construction process than traditional building methods.
The building was designed to maximise the amount of natural light that could enter the space, with a high vaulted roof made of glass and iron. It was described in newspapers at the time as having the appearance of a “fairy palace”.
One of the most innovative features of the Crystal Palace was its modular design. The building could be easily disassembled and reassembled, allowing the Crystal Palace to be moved to a new location after the Great Exhibition. The building was eventually relocated to Sydenham, south London, where it was expanded and became a popular tourist attraction until it was destroyed by a fire in 1936.
Overall, Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace was a revolutionary achievement in architecture and engineering, showcasing the innovative use of prefabrication and natural light in building design. It remains a symbol of British industrial and technological progress, and its legacy can still be seen in modern architecture today.
Joseph Paxton
In The Charmed (my first Fae of the Crystal Palace series book), Alice meets the famous Mr Paxton, who who becomes a recurring character in the novel.
Paxton is one of the only characters in the book based on a real historical figure. He was synonymous of course with The Crystal Palace and The Great Exhibition, and overall a fascinating figure.
Joseph Paxton (1803-1865) was an English horticulturist, architect and designer. He began his career as a gardener’s apprentice at the age of 15 and quickly rose through the ranks to become head gardener at the Chatsworth estate in Derbyshire. He was known for his innovative horticultural techniques and designs, which earned him a reputation as one of the foremost gardeners of his time.
In addition to his work in horticulture, Paxton was also an accomplished architect and designer. He designed several buildings, including the Great Conservatory at Chatsworth, which was the largest glasshouse in the world at the time. He also designed several parks and gardens, including Birkenhead Park, which was the first publicly funded park in the world.
Paxton’s most famous design is undoubtedly the Crystal Palace. After the success of the Crystal Palace, Paxton continued to work as an architect and designer, and was involved in several other notable projects, including the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and the design of the London sewer system.
Paxton was also involved in politics and was elected to Parliament as a Member of Parliament for Coventry in 1854. He was knighted in 1851 for his work on the Crystal Palace, and was made a Baronet in 1856.
Overall, Joseph Paxton was a versatile and talented designer and innovator, who made significant contributions to the fields of horticulture, architecture and engineering. His legacy can still be seen in modern building design and landscaping techniques today.
My portrayal of Paxton is based purely on my imagination as is my fictional idea that he may have been inspired by a fairy palace (see my origins story The Pledge for a cameo from Paxton, you should be able to spot him by his signature sideburns).
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