Crystal Palace Subway shortlisted for Restoration of the Year award

A newly restored subway has been shortlisted for Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year at the national Museums + Heritage Awards.

The Crystal Palace Subway has been carefully and sympathetically restored in a £3.5 million project led by Bromley Council and driven by local support spearheaded by the Friends of Crystal Palace Subway.

The structure has now been brought back into public use as a unique, historic building, one of the few remaining structures from the Victorian Crystal Palace complex. Highlights of the restored building include a new glass roof, reconstructed staircases and the reuse and sourcing of heritage materials to maintain the character of the building.

The subway, now run by Crystal Palace Park Trust, has been visited by around 6,000 people in the first three months since reopening, hosting events from a craft market and pop-up cinema screenings to stand-up comedy and a silent disco.

Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, said: “This welcome news shows once again the quality of the restoration that has been completed on the muchloved subway, which means that the incredible structure is once again available for residents and visitors to enjoy. As we keep our fingers crossed for the final, we are also pressing ahead with the wider regeneration of this historic park, to ensure that all its magnificent heritage is protected for the future, along with the thriving green spaces throughout the park.”

The subway’s restoration was guided by expert advice provided by Historic England with Bromley Council appointing architects Thomas Ford & Partners and conservation specialists DBR Limited to transform the space. The project was funded through several sources, including from the City of London Strategic Investment Pot, more than £1 million from Historic England, and generous donations from numerous individuals.

News of the shortlisting follows the subway winning a National Railway Heritage Award late last year. Techniques used in the restoration project included 3D digital technology combined with historical document research and onsite surveying to unearth obscured or lost heritage features.

The winner of the Museums + Heritage award will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday 15 May.

The subway restoration is the first phase of the major regeneration of the park, being co-delivered by Bromley Council in partnership with Crystal Palace Park Trust, with the next major stage of the works to include the restoration of the Crystal Palace dinosaurs and Italian terraces.

Visit crystalpalaceparktrust.org for more information and booking details.