Alexandra Palace Fire - 1980 - BBC News Report

[missdeebates]

I recall waking up and going into wood green that afternoon , such a tragedy the old Palace as it was , although neglected was a triumph and had so much history and character and the park itself was such a joy to ramble through. Whilst the restoration work has managed well to preserve some of the integrity of the building it seems somehow to have lost much of its character . It feels like moments ago when I stood in Wood Green watching the smoke rising from it, a truly sad day. x

[poussecafe3]

They had such a good opportunity to remove this dreadful eyesore and restore the hill back to its original natural state but of course it was not done

[aptsarchive]

@poussecafe3 I'm afraid that as our remit is to preserve for present and future generation the history of the BBC Television Station at Alexandra Palace, we don't agree with your statement that it was an opportunity to demolish the palace and return it to natural park land.

[goodchappy]

@aptsarchive I cannot understand the mind set of someone suggesting this should be pulled down. It is a great pity that the insurance did cover a full rebuild after the fire. I walked round the palace last weekend and it is rather sad to see certain parts of it missing and the modern buildings inside the shell. Also the fact the railway was removed could not have helped with access to the building.

I doubt it will ever be renovated to its former glory.

[aptsarchive]

@goodchappy I agree, AP is a wonderful building, but totally of its time! The rebuild went way-overe budget and sadly the building has continued to have an unsettled financial future. There are always plans in the pipe-line to develope the building or park in someway, but sadly, they don't ever seem to come to fruition.

[MrWurlitzer1]

Thank you,I did not know that the organ was "away" for restoration, how fortunate. I have heard the re-built organ via TV and radio, and would love to hear it live one day.

[MrWurlitzer1]

I did not realise the 32' facade pipes had survived the fire, until now. What happened to them ?

[aptsarchive]

@MrWurlitzer1 The majority of the organ was being restored so was not actually at the Palace at the time of the fire. The organ was restored and is back insitu in the Great Hall, along with its pipes. The Alexandra Palace Organ Society do hold organ recitals on a regular basis.

[goodchappy]

@aptsarchive Restored but ony half of it to date :-)

[fifthof]

Used to live in Hornsey and have been there many times.However,I think the place is an architectural eyesore and has little to redeem it . I agree with some of the comments saying it has no character. Haringey council should cut their losses and get rid or demolish it.

[charlieiscool1000]

Erm demolish a North London landmark that also was the first place in the world too broadcast TV live u out of your mind traitor.

[morph1968]

it sounds like an insurance job to me,.

[Rockage1960]

I was working 4 the BBC/OU there at the time of this happening.

It was awful.

Its great that it has been restored somewhat & is being used but the atmosphere & charactor has been lost 4ever & ever amen.

It has been said that once they knew that kno-one was in any danger "with the exception of the firefighters" it was just left 2 burn. (Accident or deliberate) makes u wonder does'nt it. (I kno lets start a fire & claim the insurance money).

[aptsarchive]

@Rockage1960 We are fortunate that we have the London Fire Brigade records for the 1980 fire and a series of photographs by the official LFB photographer - which are quite dramatic. Pumps from almost the whole of London were called to AP that day, eventually the actual number got to about 45!

[missdeebates]

I was living in Wood Green at the time of the fire and remember the day well, fortunately I had been to an event inside of the Old Palace prior to the fire , whilst the integrity of the structure has been saved the atmosphere and history that one felt inside , has been lost, it really isn't the same and it has never enjoyed the proper investment it deserves . Harringey had only just completed the purchase of the building from the GLC for the sum of £1 when the fire broke out, a very sad day.

[wrtlpfmpf]

On a side-note, the character generator IC probably was made by ITT.