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Alexandra Palace officially opened 150 years ago. MARION McMULLEN finds how Ally Pally became the birthplace of BBC TV

- MARION McMULLEN

CONCERTS and fireworks marked the opening of Alexandra Palace... 16 days later it was destroyed by fire.

The original building was opened in time for Queen Victoria's 54th birthday but a rogue ember from a workman’s hot coals floated up to the rafters of the new recreation and exhibition centre just before lunch-time. The roof had collapsed by 1.30pm as the fire brigade battled to extinguish the blaze

Staff scurried around removing works of art from the burning build-ing, but a collection of china and a musical organ were destroyed and three people died.

It looked like it was the end for the London building, but work began again and it rose from the ashes two years later. Affectionately nick-named Ally Pally, it officially opened to the public 150 years ago in May 1875.

It boasted one of the largest musical organs in Europe at the time and offered everything from an evening of magic and music to ice skating and shows.

Samuel Franklin Cody brought his Wild West Show there in 1888 and Winston Churchill spoke in the Great Hall in 1913 although there were some complaints that not every-one could hear him clearly.

The building housed refugees at the start of the First World War before becoming an internment camp. In 1922 it hosted a Scout Rally attended by scout founder Robert Baden-Powell and 73,000 scouts.