Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
8,250
London, England, United Kingdom
Details About The Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a historic entertainment venue situated in Alexandra Park, London. Owners of Alexandra Palace opened it in 1873, but due to a destructive fire, John Johnson and Alfred Meeson again rebuilt it in 1875. It is nicknamed "Ally Pally" and was designed as a public centre for education, recreational sports events, and entertainment. The original studios now used to exhibit the old television equipment, located in the south-east wing with their producers' galleries. The structure of Alexandra Palace covers around 7.5 acres. The Great Hall and West Hall are mainly used for exhibitions, conferences, and music concerts. It is operated by the trading arm of the charitable trust, which owns the building and park. It also has a pub, ice rink, and palm court, apart from all these.History of Alexandra Palace
The Palace got designed to provide an area for international and national competitions and other kinds of events. The Palace was designed and developed by John Johnson and Alfred Meeson. This place, from the beginning, served as a purpose of recreational program, education, and entertainment.
In 1900, when owners of the Palace planned to sell the Alexandra Palace, the neighboring locals managed to acquire it and the “Act of Parliament” created the Alexandra Palace and Park Trust. The act created this place by ordering the trustees to open it for the public forever.
Alexandra Palace and Park, also used as refuge camp in the both the World Wars. The war lead to influx of refugees from different neighboring countries and this pace was place for them to shelter themselves.
In 1935 part of the Alexandra Palace was leased to the BBC Television group for creating a transmission centre for television service. 1936 was a year in which it became the home of BBC’s first regular public television service. Alexandra Palace and park was declared a Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Borough Importance For Nature Conversation.
Significance
- The Palace is used for multiple sports and entertainment events.
- The stadium is now open for the public to hold any event.
- In 1996 the Palace became a Listed Building of the country.
- In 1963, a major event named "The Observer's Wildlife Exhibition" was held to create awareness for common endangered species.
- In December 1972, the famous rock band "Led Zeppelin" performed at Alexandra Palace.
- An important part of the film "A Lizard in a Woman's Skin" by Italian director Lucio Fulci was shot here.
- The Strangers band played the last gig of Hugh Cornwell here.
- In August 2000, the fourth Mind Sports Olympiad was held here, in which more than 4,000 competitors participated.
- In December 2007, PDC World Darts Championship was held here.
- The stadium has served as an official hospitality venue for the Dutch Olympic team during the 2012 Summer Olympics.
