Alexandra Palace
Dear Readers, it’s been lovely to see the gradual resurrection of Alexandra Palace, from a state of near-dereliction following a fire in 1980, to a place with a theatre, exhibition space, ice rink and all sorts of other exciting things, including some studio space where I was visiting a friend.
As you probably know, Alexandra Palace was the original home of the BBC, with the first broadcast happening in 1936. In fact, the television mast is still used today.
Television mast!
During the First World War, the building was used first as a refugee camp for displaced Germans, and then as an internment camp for German and Austrian civilians.
Of course, one reason for stomping all the way up here is the unparalleled view of London, even through the heat haze.
Canary Wharf
South London (and Crystal Palace mast in the background)
The Shard
The Post Office Tower
Inside, it’s very, well, glassy. And a bit hot.
Well, after a coffee with my pal it was time to walk uphill back to Muswell Hill to catch a bus home. This involves a walk along Duke’s Avenue, which has some of the loveliest Edwardian buildings that you can imagine. There are so many details – round windows and plasterwork, as in this pair of beauties below….
Ironwork, woodwork, original encaustic tiles on the pathway, fine porches and doors…
Turrets….
…and stained glass windows…
and yet more plasterwork…
…and before I knew it I was back at Muswell Hill roundabout, and was lucky enough to board a 234 bus before I even had time to register how warm it was.
Incidentally, if you’re in Muswell Hill I am much taken by Roni’s Bagel Bakery – and I saw people carrying away sackfuls of Bagels on Sunday to keep them going through the week, so they must be doing something right!
Lovely writeup thanks!
This brought back so many memories for my son and me! I could see the Ally Pally mast from the upstairs of my childhood home. There wasn’t a lot going on there in those days, but a generation later, my son enjoyed trips to the ice rink and the boating lake whenever we were in London, and in his late teens and early 20s, he sometimes went to concerts there. He still has great affection for Ally Pally, and loved your photos of the London skyline.
One of my oldest friends has rented a flat in Duke’s Avenue for more than 30 years and she wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. She’s seen the prices of the surrounding properties rocket during her time there!
Oh my goodness yes re the prices. Houses on Dukes/Kings Avenue are now about £2.5m and upwards…
Another addition to my London must-see destinations! I’ve added quite a few from your blog.
Many years ago, after I left London Uni (QEC, now King’s btw) I got a job working as an Admin Assistant for the Data Processing Director of Freemans (the mail order company, based on Clapham Road near Stockwell tube station). One Christmas, as a treat and thank you to his two secretaries and me, he took us for a meal in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Post Office Tower. A fabulous experience for a young lad whocould never have afforded such luxuries! I’m not sure if it’s still operational (even as a restaurant!?)
Ah, the building was closed because it was thought to be too much of a terrorist target when the IRA were active in London. These days, you can enter a lottery to visit during Open City in September, and that’s it. You were very lucky to see it in all its glory!
I remember the bombs going off while I was at Uni. The College was based in Kensington and we’d often hear booms coming from Oxford street. Maybe things had settled down by the time I started work, or the Director had some sway with the post office due to all the parcels going through the Post Office. 🤔
The boss told an amusing story about how the IT software was clever enough to ensure the e.g. Aberdeen parcels were sent across to the depot (in Peterborough) first, so that they could be put on the train in time to get there for delivery the next day and the more local ones went across last. But (he said) the Post Office personnel were structured in a way that they had a person responsible for Aberdeen mail and others for other areas. So the poor Aberdeen man was worked off his feet while the others stood by and then he collapsed in a heap when the next location, e.g. Glasgow, parcels came over. And then the Glasgow man started… So the Post Office asked him to change the software to be more random!