The removal of the world-famous Crystal Palace Dinosaurs and Geological Court from Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register is one of the major successes of the regeneration project – the largest regeneration programme delivered in the park since the Crystal Palace was destroyed in 1936.

The Dinosaurs  

The Victorian sculptures have been carefully restored and painted in line with their original colours, meaning their appearance is as close to what the public would have originally seen 172 years ago.  

The thirty sculptures were the world’s first life-sized models of extinct creatures. They were intended to communicate the ground-breaking fossil discoveries being made by Victorian-era palaeontologists to the public – to inspire wonder as well as to educate.  

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

Park Regeneration

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:

• the creation of a new, destination Dinosaur Playground

• restoration of the Grade II-listed Italian Terraces upon which the architectural masterpiece, the Crystal Palace, sat when the park was created as its permanent home in 1854  

• a new Visitor Centre housing a permanent exhibition bringing to life all 170 years of history in the park

• restoration of the Grand Centre Walk, one of the defining aspects of the park’s original landscape design

• reinstatement of the 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 two new accessible routes across the steep upper slopes of the park

• the introduction of sustainable drainage systems in key areas of the park to improve water management

• extensive planting to increase biodiversity and improve habitats for wildlife including birds and bats

Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, said: “Our regeneration plan has always been about securing this historic park for the future and when you look at the incredible transformation that we have delivered, that future is looking brighter than ever. I hope residents and visitors enjoy exploring the stunning restored heritage and the host of new improvements across the park, which will be taken into the next chapter of its history under the careful custodianship of our partners Crystal Palace Park Trust.”

Victoria Pinnington, CEO of Crystal Palace Park Trust, said: “With this major regeneration project now complete we’re thrilled to ‘throw open the gates’ so that the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs and wider park can do their job inspiring joy, wonder and curiosity among visitors, just as the park’s visionary founder, Sir Joseph Paxton, always intended. This September marks the third anniversary of the Trust’s custodianship of th park. We look forward to caring for these internationally significant 200 acres, and all 12 listed assets within them, for the enjoyment of many generations to come.”

Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, Co-CEO Historic England said: “These sculptures were built by the Victorians to model how they understood prehistoric animals to look at a time when they were asking big questions about the origins of life on Earth. They are internationally important in the history of science and loved by people around the world.

“The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs were added to our Heritage at Risk Register in 2020 due to concerns about their structural stability and deterioration, but these masterpieces are now fully restored and their colours vibrant again.

This project has involved a wide range of experts to record the sculptures and inform the best course of repair and conservation. Thanks to the hard work of the Crystal Palace Park Trust, Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, London Borough of Bromley, Sally Strachey Historic Conservation, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Garfield Weston Foundation, these dinosaurs are no longer at risk of extinction.”

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Crystal Palace Park has been a much-loved part of London life for generations, connecting people and communities with nature, culture, sport and outstanding heritage. We are incredibly proud that our funding has helped secure the future of its world-famous dinosaurs, restoring these remarkable Victorian landmarks and ensuring that they can be valued and enjoyed by future generations.

“Thanks to National Lottery players we’ve been able to work in partnership, bringing together Bromley Council, Crystal Palace Park Trust, Historic England and many community groups and local voices who care for heritage and cherish this vital green space. It has created more opportunities for people to connect with the park from nature walks to a new dinosaur themed playground - so that it will continue to inspire, educate and welcome visitors.”

‍