In 1851, the Great Exhibition became the first international exhibition for manufactured products. It was founded by Henry Cole and Prince Albert and was held in a purpose-built Crystal Palace in Hyde Park. They made a profit of £186,000 which is equivalent to tens of millions today. Many of the objects displayed in the exhibition were later used as the first collection for the South Kensington Museum, which opened in 1857. It later became the Victoria and Albert Museum.  Many famous Victorians attended the exhibition including Charles Dickens, Emily Bronte, George Eliot and Lewis Caroll. Over 6 million people visited the Great Exhibition. The average daily attendance was 42,831 with a peak attendance of 109,915 on 7th October. It was a massive success. The money raised was used to set up the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The closing ceremony was held on October 15th before it was deconstructed and re-built at Sydenham Hill in upper Norwood in 1857. Sir Joseph Paxton designed the Crystal Palace in 1849. Intricate networks of slender iron rods, which supported walls of clear glass, held it together. There were over 245 designs for the Crystal Palace however none of them were suitable, as they would take too long and be too permanent. Victoria Regia House inspired Sir Joseph Paxton’s design. The original sketch is now on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The idea behind the Great Exhibition was to be able to invite international exhibitors to showcase their work all under one roof. Around 14,000 exhibitors participated from all over the world. France sent 1,760 exhibits and the United States sent 560. The exhibits ranged from false teeth, artificial legs, Colt's repeating pistol, Goodyear Indid rubber goods, chewing tobacco and McCormick's reaper.

This is a Colour Illustration of The Great Exhibition by Carl Curana. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/292452569538747325/

The Great Exhibition 1851

The Great Exhibition still influences science today. People who visited the Crystal Palace were given an insight into the latest technologies including electric telegraphs, microscopes, a prototype facsimile machine, a revolving lighthouse and an early submarine. It has been the only time in history where such a large scale effort to promote technology to the masses was made. The profits were used to ‘increase the means of industrial education and extend the influence of science and art upon productive industry.’ First, they purchased 96 acres of land in south Kensington which is now known as the great museums of the V&A, Natural History and Science. The Great Exhibition was a huge success however such exposure to international competition saw a rude awakening for British industry. The French upstaged them in terms of design flair, the Germans by precision engineering and the Americans in terms of large-scale manufacturing. Prince Albert was determined to do something about it and so as well as creating a unique cultural estate; he established a series of scholarships, which was realized in 1891, thirty years after his death. He wanted to encourage bright, early-career scientists to develop their research. The aim of the Great Exhibition was to show that technology was the key to a better future, a belief that was an extremely motivating force behind the Industrial Revolution. “Its legacy has supported hundreds of innovators over the last 150 years through the Commission’s fellowships, a fact that has undoubtedly contributed to the UK becoming a world-leader in research and development.”          The Exhibition cause massive controversy when its opening approached. Some conservatives feared that the mass of visitors may become a ‘revolutionary mob.’ King Ernest Augustus I of Hanover, wrote to Lord Strangford shortly before his death:          

The folly and absurdity of the Queen in allowing this trumpery must strike every sensible and well-thinking mind, and I am astonished the ministers themselves do not insist on her at least going to Osborne during the Exhibition, as no human being can possible answer for what may occur on the occasion. The idea … must shock every honest and well-meaning Englishman. But it seams everything is conspiring to lower us in the eyes for Europe.

This photograph is called Royal Commission for the Exhibit 1851. www.vam.ac.uk/page/g/great-exhibition/

Admission prices to the Crystal Palace varied according to the date of visit. They went from three guineas (£311.05 in 2015) for a season ticket, or £1 per day for the first two days only. It was then reduced to five shillings per day until May 22nd. The admission price was further reduced to one shilling per day. Around 2500 tickets were printed for the opening day, which were all sold out. Originally ticket prices were extremely high as it was an event aimed for only the wealthiest people, as it was an upper class event. As the Exhibition’s popularity grew the prices were dropped due to the increasing number of people wanting to attend. On November 30, 1936, the Crystal Palace was destroyed by one of the greatest fires London has ever seen. The fire had started in the women’s cloakroom and spread to the central transept. Despite the efforts of hundreds of firemen the building could not be saved. Buckland told

reporters that the magnificent structure would “live in memories not only of English men, but the whole world.” It was the end of an era.

This is Sir Joseph Paxton's original drawings and planning's of the Crystal Palace. http://josefcaruana.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-great-exhibition-crystal-palace.html

References

How the Great Exhibition of 1851 still influences science today. By: Nigel Williams Date published: Friday 28th August 2015 Can be found: https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2015/aug/28/how-the-great-exhibition-of-1851-still-influences-science-today

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Paxton

November 30, 1936: The Crystal Palace is destroyed by fire. By: Chas Early Date Published: 22nd May 2017 Can be found: http://home.bt.com/news/on-this-day/november-30-1936-the-crystal-palace-is-destroyed-by-fire-11363947170210

https://www.bl.uk/victorian-britain/articles/the-great-exhibition

The Great Exhibition. Date Published: 6th December 2017 Can be found: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Exhibition

http://greatexhibition1851.blogspot.co.uk

Title of Book: The Great Exhibition: A Facsimile of the Illustrated Catalogue of London's 1851 Crystal Palace Exposition   Publisher: Gramercy    Publication Date: 1995

Official catalogue of the Great exhibition of the works of industry of all nations, 1851 Publication Date: 1851 Publisher: London, Spicer Brothers

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Great-Exhibition-of-1851/

http://www.victorianschool.co.uk/Gt_exhib.html