A Short History of the Crystal Palace
This course will take place online.
This short course evokes the sights and sounds of this hugely popular Victorian event, before revealing its enduring legacy in the South London suburbs. From the flip-flap, to butter sculptures, to the Palace of Beauty, discover its strange and unusual exhibits.
We'll then take a look at exhibition cultures in the early twentieth century, at vast new sites of leisure, such as Earls Court and the White City in West London.
Who is this course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in:
- the origins and character of the Crystal Palace exhibition in Hyde Park
- the development of the London suburbs
- the history of leisure and tourism in the long nineteenth century
- revisiting social history through original historical source materials
What can I expect?
- The subject is taught online using original historical content from illustrations, pamphlets, guidebooks, and more from Bishopsgate Institute’s special collections
- The tutor interprets this content in a series of informative PowerPoint slideshow talks
- The talks are richly illustrated with digitised historical sources, many of them rare and some unique to the Institute
- There are opportunities for student participation through informal small group discussion, and via the chat function and questions
Will I need any equipment or materials?
We will be looking at written texts on screen during the session. Make sure you have reading glasses to hand if worn.
Joining via Zoom
This course or event will be held via Zoom. You need a computer/laptop or mobile phone to access the Zoom website, and a reliable internet connection. For further information on how to join a Zoom meeting, you can watch the joining video here.
You will need a computer or other device to connect with Zoom and a notebook/paper and pen/pencil, or digital equivalent.
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Need to Know
You will learn
- Richly-detailed information about how it felt to visit the Great Exhibition in 1851
- How and why the exhibition building moved south of the river, and what this meant for the Sydenham region of south London from the 1850s
- Evocative insight into the lively exhibition cultures that emerged out of the Great Exhibition
- A greater awareness of the role of the Crystal Palace in Victorian London’s development as a global city
Meet the Tutor
Dr Michelle Johansen
Dr Michelle Johansen is a social historian specialising in the history of modern London, with a particular emphasis on social class and mobility, gender, professional lives, and regional identities. Her publications include articles in Teaching History, the London Journal, and Cultural and Social History. Michelle has more than ten years' experience of delivering learning sessions at Bishopsgate Institute for all types of learners, from primary school pupils to undergraduates to informal adult learners. Her teaching approach places the emphasis on access to original historical documents, which provides a uniquely dynamic and immersive classroom experience.
Dates and Times
A Short History of the Crystal Palace
, 4:23 - 7:23
