Bromley Council has invested £22 million, supplemented by a £5 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to restore 30 concrete dinosaurs in Crystal Palace Park. The total cost of £27 million has removed the dinosaur models from Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register, though they retain their Grade I listed status.
Restoration project details
The dinosaurs, first unveiled in 1854 and largely unmaintained for nearly 200 years, were temporarily removed last year for restoration. Workers repainted them in their original colours, matching the Victorian-era appearance. The project aimed to preserve the world's first dinosaur sculptures, which include species such as Dicynodon, Mosasaurus, and Teleosaurus. Notably, no Tyrannosaurus rex is among the 30 models.
Historical significance
The dinosaurs were originally designed for the Great Exhibition of 1851, held at the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park. When the Crystal Palace was relocated to South London, the dinosaur models were created to accompany it. They were unveiled in 1854, making them the earliest dinosaur sculptures globally. The Victorians were fascinated by these prehistoric creatures; the word 'dinosauria' was coined in 1842 by palaeontologist Richard Owen, who famously hosted a dinner inside an Iguanodon model at the Crystal Palace in 1853. Charles Dickens also referenced a Megalosaurus in the opening chapter of Bleak House.
Scientific inaccuracies
According to the Natural History Museum, the sculptures are now considered 'comically incorrect' by modern standards. They were based on contemporary knowledge, drawing from monitor lizards and crocodiles scaled up in size. Despite their inaccuracies, they provide insight into the history of palaeontology. The Crystal Palace itself burned down in 1936, but the dinosaurs remain a popular attraction.
Local attractions
The Crystal Palace area offers additional amenities, including independent shops, restaurants, and a Saturday food market. The Crystal Palace Triangle features Domali café, the Sparrowhawk pub, Mediterranea restaurant, and Edo sushi. Shops include vintage furniture stores and The Bookseller Crow bookshop. The neighbourhood hosts an annual festival in June.
