Editing The Crystal Palace (section)

== Aftermath ==
[[File:Crystal Palace Destoyed 1936.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The Crystal Palace completely destroyed, a few days after the night of 30 November 1936]]

All that was left standing after the fire were the two water towers and a section of the north end of the main nave which was too badly damaged to be saved. The south tower to the right of the Crystal Palace entrance was taken down shortly after the fire, as the damage sustained had undermined its integrity and presented a major risk to houses nearby. [[Thos. W. Ward|Thos. W. Ward Ltd]]., Sheffield, dismantled the Crystal Palace.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://digital.lib.umd.edu/worldsfairs/result/id/umd:768?query=sheffield |title=Dismantling by Thos. W. Ward Ltd., Sheffield & London {{!}} World's Fair Treasury |website=digital.lib.umd.edu |access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref>

[[File:CPupperterraces01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The Crystal Palace site: Remains of the upper terrace, 1993]]

[[File:Crystal Palace (39934435335).jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The Crystal Palace site from the air]]

The north tower was demolished with explosives in 1941.<ref name="time-north-tower">{{cite magazine |date=28 April 1941 |title=War's Worst Raid |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,765495,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201013843/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,765495,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 December 2008 |access-date=29 May 2008}}</ref><ref name="pescod-north-tower">{{cite journal |last=Pescod |first=David FRS |title=Correspondence |date=10 February 2005 |journal=The Linnean |volume=21 |issue=2 |page=36 |publisher=[[Linnean Society of London]] |location=London |url=http://www.linnean.org/fileadmin/images/Publications/Linnean-21-2__2__web_complete.pdf |access-date=29 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070730041406/http://www.linnean.org/fileadmin/images/Publications/Linnean-21-2__2__web_complete.pdf |archive-date=30 July 2007}}</ref> No reason was given for its removal—it was rumoured that it was to remove a landmark for German aircraft in the Second World War. In fact [[Luftwaffe]] bombers actually navigated their way to central London by tracking the [[River Thames|Thames]]. The Crystal Palace grounds were used as a manufacturing base for aircraft radar screens and other hi-tech equipment of the time. This remained a secret until well after the war.

After the destruction of the Palace, the High Level Branch station fell into disuse and was finally shut in 1954. After the war the site was used for a number of purposes. Between 1927 and 1972, the [[Crystal Palace circuit|Crystal Palace motor racing circuit]] was located in the park, supported by the [[Greater London Council]], but the noise was unpopular with nearby residents, and racing hours were regulated under a high court judgment.<ref name="norwoodsociety.co.uk" /> The [[Crystal Palace transmitting station]] was built on the former aquarium site in the mid-1950s and still serves as one of London's main television transmission masts.

In northern corner of the park is the [[Crystal Palace Bowl]], a natural [[amphitheatre]] where large-scale open-air summer concerts have been held since the 1960s. These have ranged from classical and orchestral music, to rock, pop, blues and reggae. [[Pink Floyd]], [[Bob Marley]], [[Elton John]], [[Eric Clapton]], and [[The Beach Boys]] played the Bowl during its heyday. The stage was rebuilt in 1997 with an award-winning permanent structure designed by [[Ian Ritchie (architect)|Ian Ritchie]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ianritchiearchitects.co.uk/projects/concert_stand/ |title=Crystal Palace Concert Platform |work=Ian Ritchie Architects |access-date=30 March 2020 |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329233107/https://www.ianritchiearchitects.co.uk/projects/concert_stand/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Bowl has been inactive as a music venue for several years, and the stage has fallen into a state of disrepair, but as of March 2020 [[London Borough of Bromley]] Council are working with a local action group to find "creative and community-minded business proposals to reactivate the cherished concert platform".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bromley.gov.uk/press/article/1572/creative_proposals_wanted_for_the_future_of_the_concert_platform |title=Creative proposals wanted for the future of the concert platform &#124; London Borough of Bromley |access-date=30 March 2020 |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329233108/https://www.bromley.gov.uk/press/article/1572/creative_proposals_wanted_for_the_future_of_the_concert_platform |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2020 the base and foundation of the south tower were given historic status.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://insidecroydon.com/2020/09/24/remains-of-brunels-crystal-palace-tower-granted-listed-status/|title=Remains of Brunel's Crystal Palace tower granted listed status|date=24 September 2020|website=Inside Croydon}}</ref> They are located near the Crystal Palace Museum on Anerley Hill, which is dedicated to the history of the building.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crystalpalacemuseum.org.uk/|title=Crystal Palace Museum|website=Crystal Palace Museum}}</ref>

=== Future ===
Over the years, numerous proposals for the former site of the Palace have not come to fruition. Plans by the [[London Development Agency]] to spend £67.5&nbsp;million to refurbish the site, including new homes and a regional sports centre were approved after Public Inquiry in December 2010. Before approval was announced the LDA withdrew from taking on management of the park and funding the project.

In 2013, the Chinese company ZhongRong Holdings held early talks with the London Borough of Bromley and Mayor [[Boris Johnson]] to rebuild the Crystal Palace on the north side of the park.<ref name="rebuild">{{cite web|title=Plans for Crystal Palace replica |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23475994 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=27 July 2013 |access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref> However, the developer's sixteen-month exclusivity agreement with Bromley council to develop its plans was cancelled when it expired in February 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mann |first1=Will |title=Shattered:£500M Crystal Palace rebuild plan |date=26 February 2015 |url=http://www.nce.co.uk/news/structures/shattered-500m-crystal-palace-rebuild-plan/8679193.article |publisher=New Civil Engineer |access-date=25 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mann |first1=Will |title=Shattered: £500M Crystal Palace rebuild plan |date=26 February 2015 |url=http://www.nce.co.uk/news/structures/shattered-500m-crystal-palace-rebuild-plan/8679193.article |publisher=New Civil Engineer |access-date=25 March 2015}}</ref>