SUBWAY HISTORY EXHIBITION – 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIGH LEVEL STATION CLOSURE / WALK HIGH LEVEL STATION ROUTE THROUGH SYDENHAM HILL WOOD – OPEN DAY SUNDAY / OPEN DAYS AT STONEY LANE STUDIOS (September 13th to 21st) / TWEET YOUR #AskaCurator MUSEUM QUESTIONS / EVENTS AT THE CINEMA MUSEUM 24th, 26th & 30th September
SUBWAY HISTORY EXHIBITION – 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIGH LEVEL STATION CLOSURE
Inspired by the Subway, a multimedia exhibition documenting the history of the stunning pedestrian subway which led first class passengers from the Crystal Palace high level station directly in to the central transept of the vast Crystal Palace, is being held this weekend (20 and 21 September).
The exhibition is being held on the platform of the concert bowl in Crystal Palace park from 10 am until 3pm on both days.
The subway – which runs underneath Crystal Palace Parade – saw no footfall from 20th September 1954 when the high level station was closed and the hidden subway began its new life as a place of myths, dreams, illegal raves, celebratory community days and an inspiring heritage asset.
These and other stories have been preserved as audio or video recordings and edited into short film clips to include many of the personal photographs, home videos, flyers and music that have been donated to the project.
Visitors to the exhibition will also be able to see some of the many artworks that have been inspired by the unusual columns and brickwork of the subway. After-school and summer art groups from Anerley town hall and Kingswood Shop have taken part in art workshops in the subway.
Their work will be on display alongside creations from artists from across South London who have been inspired to paint, make and print after seeing the subway for themselves.
Sue Giovanni, project manager of Inspired by the Subway, said: “The subway is always able to fire the imagination of visitors and distant admirers. “This can be seen in the range of creative work done by local young people and professional artists alike.
“The same can be said for the project volunteers and working with such an enthusiastic and capable group has been the perfect way to investigate the creative uses the local community has put the subway to since the fall of the Crystal Palace in 1936.
“The project has benefitted enormously from the variety of skills and diversity of approaches that the volunteers have brought to it.”
On the concert platform alongside the art exhibition, Southwark Model Railway Club’s model of the steam engine that pulled the last train will be running on their impressive 32ft model of the station and tracks at the Inspired by the Subway exhibition.
The model was always a major attraction at the Subway Superdays held in the subway in the 1980s and 1990s. Southwark Model Railway Club is a small club based just off the Old Kent Road which has a number of layouts, the largest being the Crystal Palace High Level Station.
Construction of this 00 gauge model began in 1986 and has undergone redesign and improvements over the years.
The model on show a as part of the Inspired by the Subway exhibition will be the most complete to date although Crystal Palace High Level remains a ‘work in progress’, but there is now light at the end of the tunnel.
Entry to the exhibition is free of charge and has full disabled access.
WALK HIGH LEVEL STATION ROUTE THROUGH SYDENHAM HILL WOOD / OPEN DAY SUNDAY
On Saturday 20th September there’s the opportunity to walk the path of the Crystal Palace High Level railway 60 years after its closure.
Please meet at 10:10 for a 10:30 start at Nunhead Station, heading through Brenchley Gardens and to the Horniman Museum for a lunch break.
The walk will then head to Cox’s Walk*, Sydenham Hill Wood, over Sydenham Hill to the Hillcrest Estate woodland (the Lewisham side of the Crescent Wood Tunnel) and on along the Green Chain to Crystal Palace Park for approximately 15:30.
Daniel Greenwood, conservation project officer with Sydenham Hill Wood, London Wildlife Trust says: “We aim to underline how nature has reclaimed the old railway line (some of which was ancient woodland and mainly open land) with a string of thriving nature reserves and green spaces, as well as social housing.
“At Crystal Palace Park the Friends of the Crystal Palace Subway have kindly agreed to keep open an exhibition of the Southwark Model Railway Club’s replica of the Crystal Palace high level station and providing tea and coffee for us when we finish.
“Please bring a packed lunch, footwear suitable for a 5-6 mile walk and clothing suitable for the conditions. “This is a free walk, donations are welcome.” The walk will be led by London Wildlife Trust’s director of policy and planning, Mathew Frith.
Open Day this Sunday: “We’re holding a bird walk at 13:00 and a tree walk at 14:30 on the Cox’s Walk footbridge. “Children’s activities will take place from 13:30. “Cake and a tombola will be available all day. “There will be a live folk collective performing from 14:00. “All events will be signposted on the day.”
SUBWAY HISTORY:
The Crystal Palace Subway with its extraordinary architectural qualities and rich heritage, was built to serve the world famous Crystal Palace which gave the name to the area on top of Sydenham Hill.
The subway opened in 1865 to provide covered passage to the Crystal Palace for rail passengers arriving into the High Level station. The Crystal Palace was destroyed by fire in 1936 and the subway, which is a Grade II listed structure, is one of the last surviving elements.
Due to health and safety concerns it is nearly twenty years since the subway was regularly opened to the public.
Over the last twelve months a team of volunteers, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, has interviewed historians, architects, community leaders, residents and subway users about what the subway means to them and how it has changed over the years. The unusual stories and previously unknown information we have uncovered include:
· Memories of a brother and sister who used the subway as an air raid shelter. It was fully occupied for much or World War II, facilities included a wet and dry canteen, bunk beds, toilets and a temporary stage.
· How the subway almost became home to the London Air Museum in 1977, this collection was later sold to the Tangmere Aviation Museum in West Sussex and formed their initial display.
· How the subway would receive up to 2000 visitors in one day on Subway Superday events hosted by The Norwood Society and The Crystal Palace Foundation in the 1980s and 90s.
The Inspired by the Subway project has received funding and support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and has been a partnership between the Friends of Crystal Palace Subway and Crystal Palace Community Development Trust.
For more information on the subway and the Inspired by the Subway project, please visit www.cpsubway.org.uk You can also follow us on Twitter (@cpsubway) and find us on Facebook.
The Friends of Crystal Palace Subway is a grass roots community group that is working with local authorities (London Boroughs of Bromley and Southwark) to re-open the Crystal Palace Subway for scheduled public access.
OPEN DAYS AT STONEY LANE STUDIOS (September 13th to 21st)
Furniture and sculpture are on show at the Stoney Lane studios until Sunday (21st)
This is another of those hidden gems in the area housed behind a grey door at the end of Stoney Lane you’ll find work by sculptor Rob Good; sculptor Ezra Bailey, greenwood furniture maker Ben Willis and designer Emily Pearman.
News From Crystal Palace discovered this by accident. From the outside it looks very small – it’s actually a barn of a place which the studios describe as ‘a bit of a Tardis’.
The studios are open as part of the London Design Festival. Opening times are: Monday to Wednesday 10 am to 6.30pm; Thursday 10 am to 8pm; Friday and Saturday 11am to 7pm, and Sunday (21st) 12pm to 5pm.
TWEET YOUR #AskaCurator MUSEUM QUESTIONS
Croydon’s museum staff will be taking to Twitter on 17 September to answer questions from the public as part of an international project spanning 36 countries.
‘Ask a Curator’ is an annual event which lets people find out more about what goes on behind the scenes of their favourite museums and galleries.
Almost 500 institutions will be taking part internationally, and in Croydon the museum staff will be happy to answer any questions they can.
Croydon council’s Museum of Croydon Twitter address is @MuseumofCroydon and the hashtag for the day is #askacurator.
Cllr Timothy Godfrey, cabinet member for culture, leisure, and sport, said: “This is a fun initiative which is also very educational.
“Queries can range from what is the oldest or strangest item in the collection to people wondering if the building is haunted. “But it’s up to people to use their imaginations about what they want to know.”
The @MuseumofCroydon account already has nearly 1,000 followers and is regularly being used to commemorate the centenary of the First World War. Tweets include memorials to local soldiers who lost their lives and copies of articles from the local papers of the day. The hashtags being used are #Croydon1914 and #WW1.
EVENTS AT THE CINEMA MUSEUM
24th, 26th & 30th September
Kennington Bioscope
Wed 24th 19:30
Michelle Facey will be presenting Die Puppe (1919) (courtesy of Eureka Entertainment). Die Puppe (The Doll) is a German romantic fantasy comedy film directed by Ernst Lubitsch. The film is loosely based on the same short story which inspired the ballet Coppélia. In the first half we will be screening Going Straight (1916) starring Norma Talmadge. Dir. Chester & Sidney Franklin (courtesy of the Archive Film Agency).
Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7:30pm start. There will be a licensed bar and a cafe selling hot drinks, cakes and snacks. If you would like to come along then please email us at [email protected] to request seats. (Please supply a name and email for each seat reserved please.)
Exploding Cinema presents The Disposable Film Festival
Fri 26th 19:00
Exploding Cinema’s annual ‘Disposable Film’ night is a unique showcase of short films all made on disposable media. Phones, tablets, flatbed scanners, USB microscopes, vehicle reverse cameras, digital stills cameras – any device not normally used to make movies. This is the only chance to catch the 2014 programme of San Francisco’sDisposable Film Festival in London.
Doors open at 18.00 for a 19.00 start. Refreshments will be available in our licensed café/bar. Advance tickets (£6) may be purchased from Billetto, or direct from the Museum by calling 020 7840 2200 in office hours.
Scalarama Film Quiz
Tue 30th 19:00
Celebrate the final night of Scalarama, the nationwide film season, at this fundraising event for the museum. Expect short films, treasures from the museum’s archive, live music plus a quiz from the Ten Rounds with De Niro team. See theScalarama website for more details, or look out for updates on Twitter @scalarama
Doors open at 18.00 for a 19.00 start. Refreshments will be available in our licenced cafe/bar. A recommended donation of £5 to £10 to be collected at the event.
www.cinemamuseum.org.uk Tel: 020 7840 2200 Email: [email protected]
Mailing address is:
The Cinema Museum
2 Dugard Way
Kennington
London, SE11 4TH
United Kingdom
