Alphabe Thursday … E is for Exhibition

E is for Exhibition in particular the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, also known as the Crystal Palace Exhibition, was held in Hyde Park, London, from 1 May to 15 October 1851.

It was the first of a series of World’s fair exhibitions of culture and industry and a popular feature of the 19th century. The Great Exhibition was organised by Henry Cole and Prince Albert husband of Queen Victoria.  It was attended by many notable figures of the time and 6 million others

It was described by one regular visitor on 17th April 1850

‘… The Crystal palace is more wonderful every time we go, with coloured light everywhere, so airy and delicate, but strong. Not like as house, solid and heavy and shadowy, solid to the ground.  Like being inside a diamond it is, or a fairy palace.  Master has made a miracle , everyone says so. And as far as the exhibits inside , there are more and more every day, 10,000 they say.  We saw French and Belgian lace and English embroidery today, so the queen can’t have better – shawls and baby gowns and waistcoats, and Irish double damask tablecloths with shimmering ferns and flowers woven in.  I was near crying with pure delight it was all so lovely ‘

Images from

W.F Thomas & Co Sewing Machines

1851 or the adventures of Mr and Mrs Sandboys and Family who came up to London to enjoy themselves and see the Great Exhibition by Henry Mayhew and George Cruikshank

Richard Doyle’s pictures of extra articles and visitors to the Exhibition

Little Henry’s holiday at the Great Exhibition by the editor of ‘Pleasant pages’

The world’s fair or, children’s prize gift book of the Great Exhibition of 1851 describing the beautiful inventions and manufactures exhibited herein with pretty stories about the people who have made and sent them and how they live when at home

Further reading

My story : the Crystal Palace the diary of Lily Hicks, London 1950-1951 written by

Frances Hendry