Lunchtime Talk: The Crystal Palace Fire - The End of an Era

Hear the story of London's Crystal Palace from its inception to demise - and its afterlife as a public park. 90 years ago on 30 November 1936 a fire started at the Crystal Palace which ultimately destroyed a beloved (if tired) London landmark. This illustrated talk will retrace the story of this stunning place, featuring vivid 19th century prints and some of the earliest photographs in our collections which document the move from Hyde Park to Sydenham. About the Speaker Tom Furber is an Engagement and Learning Officer at The London Archives. He is a historical magpie who enjoys nothing more (in his professional life at least) than delving into the vast collections of The London Archives to bring out its trinkets and treasures to share with our visitors. Tom is also a doctoral candidate at Royal Holloway, University of London, and a fellow of the London Centre for Public History. His research focuses on inclusive engagement practice in archive settings. Please note this talk takes place in person only. More information about The London Archives: The London Archives is a free public archive focusing on the history of London, from 1067 to the present day. We preserve and share millions of historical manuscripts, maps, photographs, books which tell the story of the city. Everyone is welcome. You can find us in central London in Clerkenwell, close to Farringdon Station - see our Getting to The London Archives webpage.