Location: Crystal Palace Park, London, UK [MAP]
Designer: Benjamin Waterhouse, Dinosaur Sculptor
Project Type: Public Garden
Completion Date: 1850
Visited: 14.03.2015
Access: Train station at Crystal Palace, or a Bus station, the 3, 122, 157, 202, 227, 249, 322, 358, 363, 410, 417, 432, 450 will take you there.
Imagine Jurassic Park collided with early nineteenth century English park design. The results? Crystal Palace Dinosaurs.
Life sized modelled dinosaurs were created by Benjamin Waterhouse in 1850s to accompany the relocation of the Crystal Palace, which sadly burned down in 1936. Now the statues have grade 1 listed status as ‘key objects in the history of science’. Despite their restoration in 2002 some of the models are damaged, as a possible result of the harsh British weather.
The dinosaurs reside on a small island in Lower Lake in the south park of Crystal Palace Park, and is quite impressive as the landscape does a great job in reflecting the different periods of the dinosaur age from Quaternary to Triassic. There is even an audio tour to accompany you on the way around.
Waterhouse’s fantastical dinosaur models, as well as the surrounding landscape, fit well with the eccentric character of the Victorians.
The Secret Garden Atlas 