The Sphinxs in Crystal Palace Park

[Sid & Ham]

In some photographs of the *1980's there were two sphinxs each side of the stairs leading from one level to another. Were they removed if so does anyone know where to?

*Edited, had put the wrong decade.

[tulse hill terry]

There were pairs of sphinx either side of the central transept. I have always thought they were destroyed in the fire of 1936, especially when you see how the granite blocks of the stairs were shattered by heat.

They were built on a framework of bricks in a figure of 8, and I don't see how they would have survived any attempt to move them. There was a chunk of one which ahd rolled into the bushes the last time I walked there and it would have looked just like a lump of cement to anyone who didn't know. If they had been damaged, I don't think anyone would have thought them of any further value. They weren't included in the sale of sculpture and urns in 1957.

I have covered the sphinx's in this thread.

http://forum.sydenham.org.uk/viewtopic. ... ffd160a858

[Sid & Ham]

Thankyou for that, in the pictures I was looking at I'm sure the statues where not dark in colour...off to check.


Have checked the pictures they are from the 1980's and the statue is a light grey.