Crystal Palace Dinosaurs Repaired and Removed from Heritage at Risk Register

The world-famous Crystal Palace Dinosaurs and Geological Court have been fully repaired and restored as part of a major park regeneration programme, delivered by Bromley Council and Crystal Palace Park Trust with the support of Historic England.

As a result, the Grade I listed Victorian sculptures can be removed from the Heritage at Risk Register.

Expert advice from Historic England informed the restoration of the the Victorian sculptures, which have been carefully painted in line with their original colours. Paint analysis showed in some places more than 60 layers of paint had been added over the years. Their appearance is now as close as possible to what the public would have seen 172 years ago.

The world's first life-sized models of dinosaurs

The 30 sculptures were the world’s first life-sized models of extinct creatures. They represent the cutting edge of scientific knowledge in the 1850s and were designed by natural history artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins to bring to life the ground-breaking fossil discoveries being made at the time.

The term ‘dinosaur’ had only been coined 10 years previously and these strange beasts would have been an extraordinary sight, just as they are today.

When unveiled as one of many attractions for visitors to the Crystal Palace, the sculptures sparked the world’s first wave of ‘dinomania’.

They are Grade I listed in recognition of their exceptional role in the history of science.

They were added to the Heritage at Risk Register in 2020, due to large cracks appearing in some of the animals’ bodies and limbs, putting them in danger of losing toes, teeth and tails.

Creating a globally significant visitor attraction

Co-delivered by Bromley Council and Crystal Palace Park Trust, the regeneration works are a critical step in building the Grade II* park’s status as a globally significant cultural and heritage visitor attraction. Its special green spaces continue to be loved by communities in Bromley and the 4 other surrounding South London Boroughs.

The works were funded by the sale of land adjacent to the park for affordable housing and a £5m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players. Further match funding was also received from the Garfield Weston Foundation, London Marathon Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation and Pilgrim Trust.

Alongside the restoration of the dinosaurs and their landscape, the project has delivered:

• A new visitor centre housing a permanent exhibition bringing to life all 170 years of history in the park
• Restoration of the Grade II listed Italian terraces upon which the Crystal Palace sat when the park was created as its permanent home in 1854 
• Restoration of the Grand Centre Walk, one of the defining aspects of the park’s original landscape design
• Reinstatement of the Grade II listed bust of the park’s visionary founder, Sir Joseph Paxton, in its original position overlooking the park 
• Improved footpaths, lighting and wayfinding around the tidal lakes and Italian terraces, including the creation of 2 new accessible routes across the steep upper slopes of the park
• The creation of a new destination Dinosaur Playground
• Extensive planting to increase biodiversity and improve habitats for wildlife including birds and bats