Palace water towers

MartinH · Post by **MartinH** » 20 Oct 2009 18:20

I can remember, about a year ago, Falkor saying that he had discovered a photo of the palace which had been taken before the Brunel towers had been built but which showed ( I believe) "the Bayley towers" or something of similar spelling. Can anyone expand on this with details of their design?

Konqi · Post by **Konqi** » 20 Oct 2009 18:41

well here are photos of the towers being built:

SOUTH TOWER

NORTH TOWER

How much of this was Wild's and how much of it was Brunel's I am unsure, Interesting thing is I can't see any sign of a concrete/brick base on either tower which may suggest it was Wild's.

Also in this photo where the palace is more complete there appears to be no sign of the North Water Tower at all which would suggest that the Wild tower was no more.

This photo is also interesting looks like the chimney for the south water tower without the iron work round it, so perhaps that remained standing whilst they rebuilt the south tower. (But this is a complete guess it could well be something else, but the tower is also missing in that shot)

and remains of the two towers today:

MartinH · Post by **MartinH** » 20 Oct 2009 19:52

Thanks for your swift response. So, I must presume then that the Bayley's towers are identical to the towers that survived the great fire with the exception of the bases which were designed by Brunel. Therefore,
Bayley's towers designed, built, and tested.
Bayley's towers dismantled.
Brunel's bases designed and constructed..
Bayley's towers rebuilt.
I was always under the impression that the Bayley's towers were of an entirely different design. Thanks for clearing that up. Next question.Are there any photos of the Palace showing the experimental water tanks that were built on top of each wing to supply the fountains before the Brunel bases were installed?

Konqi · Post by **Konqi** » 20 Oct 2009 20:04

It may well have been that Brunel improved on Wild's design and altered certain things.. but what is unclear.

Also the towers in those photos look slightly thinner.

Konqi · Post by **Konqi** » 20 Oct 2009 21:29

From a bit of searching I think these are what you are after:

North Wing

South Wing

and in this drawing you see the added on levels to the terminal buildings:

tulse hill terry · Post by **tulse hill terry** » 20 Oct 2009 21:33

I thought Charles Heard Wild was the original engineer, am I wrong?

Konqi · Post by **Konqi** » 20 Oct 2009 21:35

I am not sure

tulse hill terry · Post by **tulse hill terry** » 20 Oct 2009 21:42

Always my first port of call

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1W49 ... er&f=false

Konqi · Post by **Konqi** » 20 Oct 2009 21:45

ah I'll correct myself and edit my posts.

Konqi · Post by **Konqi** » 21 Oct 2009 16:56

comparing the two towers you can see there are some differences from the outside.

Looks like Brunel reused a lot of parts from the original but made the towers larger by using another flat section of iron rather than a round column.

Chevalier · Post by **Chevalier** » 19 Dec 2009 12:11

it's amazing how much is left of the cp if you know where to look.

jasonwebber · Post by **jasonwebber** » 19 Dec 2009 16:48

A few more pictures of crystal palace on the exploring 20th century london site:

http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/ser ... nRecord.16

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Palace water towers

Palace water towers