1-157-821 - Oxford Science Archive/Heritage Images

Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace, Hyde Park, London, 1851. An interior view of the main avenue looking eastwards, showing galleries supported by iron columns rising to ridge-and-furrow glass roof. Conceived by Prince Albert, the Great Exhibition was intended to showcase the 'Works of the Industry of all Nations'. It was housed in the purpose-built Crystal Palace, the first large-scale prefabricated ferrovitreous (iron and glass) structure, designed by the gardener and architect Joseph Paxton. The prefabricated design made the construction, and later dismantling of the building, easier and quicker.