1-155-806 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Queen Victoria arriving to open the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace, London, 1851. The Crystal Palace was built to house the 'Great Exhibition of the Works of the Industry of all Nations', conceived by Prince Albert. This was the first large-scale prefabricated ferrovitreous (iron and glass) structure and was designed by the landscape designer, Joseph Paxton. The prefabricated design made the construction, and later dismantling of the building, easier and quicker. Le Blond print, with emblems of the British Empire in the surrounding corners.