Vintage BBC Mug Among Artifacts Uncovered at Alexandra Palace

Among various artifacts unearthed within a neglected section of Alexandra Palace is a BBC coffee mug displaying the broadcaster’s emblem from the 1960s. The find occurred in the North East Office Building of the palace, which previously housed the Open University production unit. This unit transmitted educational content from the palace’s television studios during the period of 1971 to 1981. The discovery of the mug took place during extensive repair work being conducted on the structure. Iain McDonald, who serves as the head of property and facilities at Alexandra Palace, commented that the palace, affectionately known as Ally Pally, has reached its 150th anniversary. He stated that it was “fascinating what we can find when we venture into the spaces that haven’t yet been restored”. Commencing in February, the restoration efforts aim to stabilize the building’s framework, supported by two grants from Historic England totaling £550,000 and £195,000. Additional finds encompassed a Lipton’s beverage bottle dating back to approximately 1878. According to a representative for the restoration initiative, the Alexandra Palace archive contains an image of a Lipton’s advertisement on a tram positioned outside the North East Office Building during the 1920s. A Codd bottle from HD Rawlings, located in Nassau Street, Fitzrovia, was also among the discoveries. This bottle represents an early iteration of a carbonated beverage container, conceived by Hiram Codd, a soft-drink manufacturer from Camberwell, London, in 1872. Codd engineered and secured a patent for a bottle featuring robust glass, designed to endure the internal pressure exerted by carbonated liquids. Furthermore, a diminutive wooden shoe was uncovered during the project, and the Alexandra Palace team is soliciting ideas regarding its original purpose. Mr McDonald remarked: “Each item tells its own unique story. They’ve provoked plenty of interest, and it’s been a lot of fun to hear people’s theories about what the items are and how they came to be at the palace.” The team at Alexandra Palace intends to finalize the building’s repair operations before the close of the current year. Subsequently, the charitable organization plans to investigate methods for reinstating public access to the structure. A spokesperson indicated: “In recent years the proportion of the palace that remains out of use has been reduced from 40% to 29%.” “Restoration – and its associated benefits for visitors, local community, local economy and the palace’s environmental footprint – is at the heart of the charity’s vision for the future.” For the finest content from BBC Radio London, tune in on Sounds, and connect with BBC London on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story submissions can be sent to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.