DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1312#0159
106 THE GREAT EXHIBITION
he is struck with the imposing grandeur of this noble vaulted roof, will not fail to notice
that it lacks that soft aerial perspective and atmospheric tint, which proved so prominent
and marked a feature in the fiat roof of the late Exhibition building in Hyde-park. The
necessity for greater depth, and more frequent intersection of the girders, has rendered
this change unavoidable, but the vastly improved character of the edifice, by the substitu-
tion of an arched for a flat roof, more than, compensates for the absence of this feature of
the former building. The central portion of the roof, which rises eight feet above the
upper surface of the girders, is fitted on each side with louver plates for the purpose of
ventilation. The girders which support the roof of the great transept are deeper and
stronger than those of the smaller ones. The construction of this roof—one of the
proudest monuments of engineering skill in the country—was the heaviest portion of the
work connected with the erection of the Crystal Palace; and the melancholy accident of
the falling of the scaffolding retarded its completion for more than three months.
The Palace, exclusive of the wings, is supported on the ground floor by 968 columns,
secured in their position by a nearly equal number of cast and wrought iron girders. The
roof of the building, except in the case of the nave and transepts, is in its general form
flat, but is made up of a series of ridges and furrows, which form the peculiar feature of
its construction. It is, in fact, a network of gutters, beautifully arranged for carrying oft'
the water, and at the same time serving to support the roof. The rain-water which falls is
conveyed away down hollow columns connected with pipes at their base. Of these
gutters a total length of nearly thirty miles has been used in the entire building.
Under the ground-floor of the building, is what is termed the Paxton tunnel. In conse-
quence of the sloping nature of the ground on which the building stands, having a fall of
twenty-six feet towards the park front, it was necessary to run up brick piers to support
the base plates on which the column rested; and a basement story looking out on to the
terrace has been formed, where the machinery in motion is exhibited. The tunnel
extends from end to end of the building, and it also contains the boilers and apparatus for
heating the building; not less than fifty miles of large iron pipes being employed for this
purpose. A tram-road traverses the whole length of the tunnel, upon which the fuel for the
smoke-consuming furnaces is conveyed. The roof of the basement floor is formed of brick
arches, resting on the flanges of cast-iron girders, supported at one end by a row of mono-
tonous-looking iron columns; and upon the other, by a brick retaining-wall. The position
occupied by exhibitors of machinery is the part immediately facing the grounds.
THE OPENING OF TEE NEW CRYSTAL PALACE.
The opening ceremony was at length definitively fixed for the 10th of June, when, her
Majesty had graciously signified her intention to be present, and great preparations were
accordingly made to give due effect to the important proceedings. A magnificent orchestra
was supplied by the members of the Sacred Harmonic, and other musical societies,
consisting of not less than 1,500 performers, under the direction of M. Costa, assisted by
Lablache, Tagliafico, Leffler, and other celebrated artistes. In the centre of the building a
dais was erected for her Majesty and the royal party, with vases full of the choicest flowers,
of every varied hue and from many a distant clime, diffusing their fragrance around;
while from every angle of the building were displayed the various banners of all nations,
waving in harmonious and peaceful accord. Innumerable were the accommodations for
the vast assembly that was expected; rows upon rows of crimson benches, chairs, and seats,
were provided for the grand display of beauty and fashion, while the chosen of the aris-
tocracy, members of the Houses of Lords and Commons, statesmen and foreign ministers,
in their rich and glittering uniforms, occupied the galleries, the nave, and the transepts,
where also figured the minor dignitaries—mayors (metropolitan and provincial) in their
he is struck with the imposing grandeur of this noble vaulted roof, will not fail to notice
that it lacks that soft aerial perspective and atmospheric tint, which proved so prominent
and marked a feature in the fiat roof of the late Exhibition building in Hyde-park. The
necessity for greater depth, and more frequent intersection of the girders, has rendered
this change unavoidable, but the vastly improved character of the edifice, by the substitu-
tion of an arched for a flat roof, more than, compensates for the absence of this feature of
the former building. The central portion of the roof, which rises eight feet above the
upper surface of the girders, is fitted on each side with louver plates for the purpose of
ventilation. The girders which support the roof of the great transept are deeper and
stronger than those of the smaller ones. The construction of this roof—one of the
proudest monuments of engineering skill in the country—was the heaviest portion of the
work connected with the erection of the Crystal Palace; and the melancholy accident of
the falling of the scaffolding retarded its completion for more than three months.
The Palace, exclusive of the wings, is supported on the ground floor by 968 columns,
secured in their position by a nearly equal number of cast and wrought iron girders. The
roof of the building, except in the case of the nave and transepts, is in its general form
flat, but is made up of a series of ridges and furrows, which form the peculiar feature of
its construction. It is, in fact, a network of gutters, beautifully arranged for carrying oft'
the water, and at the same time serving to support the roof. The rain-water which falls is
conveyed away down hollow columns connected with pipes at their base. Of these
gutters a total length of nearly thirty miles has been used in the entire building.
Under the ground-floor of the building, is what is termed the Paxton tunnel. In conse-
quence of the sloping nature of the ground on which the building stands, having a fall of
twenty-six feet towards the park front, it was necessary to run up brick piers to support
the base plates on which the column rested; and a basement story looking out on to the
terrace has been formed, where the machinery in motion is exhibited. The tunnel
extends from end to end of the building, and it also contains the boilers and apparatus for
heating the building; not less than fifty miles of large iron pipes being employed for this
purpose. A tram-road traverses the whole length of the tunnel, upon which the fuel for the
smoke-consuming furnaces is conveyed. The roof of the basement floor is formed of brick
arches, resting on the flanges of cast-iron girders, supported at one end by a row of mono-
tonous-looking iron columns; and upon the other, by a brick retaining-wall. The position
occupied by exhibitors of machinery is the part immediately facing the grounds.
THE OPENING OF TEE NEW CRYSTAL PALACE.
The opening ceremony was at length definitively fixed for the 10th of June, when, her
Majesty had graciously signified her intention to be present, and great preparations were
accordingly made to give due effect to the important proceedings. A magnificent orchestra
was supplied by the members of the Sacred Harmonic, and other musical societies,
consisting of not less than 1,500 performers, under the direction of M. Costa, assisted by
Lablache, Tagliafico, Leffler, and other celebrated artistes. In the centre of the building a
dais was erected for her Majesty and the royal party, with vases full of the choicest flowers,
of every varied hue and from many a distant clime, diffusing their fragrance around;
while from every angle of the building were displayed the various banners of all nations,
waving in harmonious and peaceful accord. Innumerable were the accommodations for
the vast assembly that was expected; rows upon rows of crimson benches, chairs, and seats,
were provided for the grand display of beauty and fashion, while the chosen of the aris-
tocracy, members of the Houses of Lords and Commons, statesmen and foreign ministers,
in their rich and glittering uniforms, occupied the galleries, the nave, and the transepts,
where also figured the minor dignitaries—mayors (metropolitan and provincial) in their