Alexandra Palace, London, Muswell Hill Building, Photo, Architecture, Picture, Architect, Design

Alexandra Palace Building

Ally Pally : Key Architecture in north London, England – design by Owen Jones

22 Aug 2009

Alexandra Palace

‘Ally Pally’

Location: Wood Green / Muswell Hill, north London

Date built: 1873

Design: Owen Jones, Architect

photos © Nick Weall

Address: Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY, England, UK

Phone: 020 8365 2121

Facilities: exhibition + conference centre ; ice-skating rink

Alexandra Palace television station radio tower still in use

photos © Nick Weall

Status: Grade II listed building

Alexandra Palace is an entertainment venue in Alexandra Park. It is located between Muswell Hill and Wood Green, in the north of the city. It was originally opened in 1873 but rebuilt in 1875 following a destructive fire. It was designed to serve as a public centre of recreation, education and entertainment and as north London’s counterpart to The Crystal Palace in south London.

Intended as “The People’s Palace” and later nicknamed “Ally Pally” (allegedly by Gracie Fields), in 1936 it became the home of the world’s first regular public “high-definition” television service, operated by the BBC. Alexandra Palace television station was located on the site and its radio tower is still in use. The original studios ‘A’ and ‘B’ still survive in the south-east wing with their producers’ galleries and are used for exhibiting original historical television equipment. The original Victorian theatre with its stage machinery also survives. The theatre and stage structure is on English Heritage’s ‘Buildings at Risk’ register. Alexandra Palace became a grade II listed building in 1996, at the instigation of Hornsey Historical Society (against the opposition of trustee Haringey London Borough Council); an application was made in 2007 by the Society and the BBC to upgrade its listing from its current grade.

A planned commercial development of the building into a mixed leisure complex including a hotel, replacement ice-skating rink, cinema, ten-pin bowling alley and exhibition centre, encountered opposition from public groups and was blocked by the High Court in 2007. The Great Hall and West Hall are typically used for exhibitions, music concerts and conferences. There is also a pub, ice rink and palm court.
Source: wikipedia

Location: Alexandra Palace, London, England, UK