New studies have unveiled the secrets behind the rapid construction of the Crystal Palace in London, which was the largest building in the world at that time. Remarkably, it was completed in just 190 days, right on schedule for the Great Exhibition of 1851. The research shows that the Crystal Palace was the first known structure to utilize standard screw threads, a common feature in contemporary construction that was not previously available.
New studies clarify how the Crystal Palace in London, then the largest building globally, was built in just 190 days.
This groundbreaking study, spearheaded by Professor John Gardner from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge, has revealed that the Crystal Palace pioneered the use of standard screw thread technology—now a fundamental aspect of modern engineering and construction.
Erected ahead of the Great Exhibition of 1851, the Crystal Palace became a prominent symbol of Victorian Britain’s industrial strength. Extending over 560 meters and featuring a massive glass roof supported by 3,300 cast iron columns, its size allowed it to expand by as much as a foot on warm days.
Nevertheless, the construction’s swift pace has intrigued historians given that the final design was only authorized in July 1850.
A new study published in The International Journal for the History of Engineering & Technology addresses this mystery, revealing the Crystal Palace as the earliest known building to implement Whitworth screw threads, which later evolved into what is now called British Standard Whitworth (BSW)—the initial national screw thread standard.
This landmark structure was originally built in Hyde Park for the Great Exhibition and was later taken apart and relocated to south London in 1854, where it remained until its destruction by fire in 1936.
The team of researchers uncovered the use of Whitworth screw threads at the Sydenham site in south London, both in the building’s remnants and in the nearby south water tower, engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel to supply water for the fountains in front of the Palace.
A bolt from a column was found to conform to British Standard Whitworth specifications, and a nut and bolt from the water tower, after being soaked in oil and subjected to heat, hammering, and force, revealed measurable screw threads that also matched the British Standard Whitworth criteria.
Before Joseph Whitworth introduced his standard, no two nuts and bolts were identical. This lack of standardization resulted in lengthy construction processes, as replacing lost or damaged screws and bolts was challenging. The Crystal Palace incorporated 30,000 nuts and bolts, and researchers believe that having standardized threads significantly contributed to its swift assembly.
Professor Gardner conducted this research through a Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship aimed at exploring the intersections between engineering and literary traditions.
He commented, “During the Victorian period, there was immense innovation throughout Britain, which dramatically transformed the world. The pace of advancements was so rapid that some breakthroughs, like this one related to the Crystal Palace, weren’t fully appreciated at that time.”
“This inquiry began with a simple question: how was it completed so rapidly? Through collaboration with Ken Kiss, curator of the Crystal Palace museum, we found answers. Ken had excavated original columns from the Sydenham site, allowing us to take precise measurements.”
“I created new bolts based on British Standard Whitworth specifications and demonstrated their fitting with the original nuts. Standardization in engineering is crucial and common in the 21st century, but its significance in constructing the Crystal Palace was a notable advancement.”
“The Great Exhibition of 1851 sought to highlight superior engineering achievements. It attracted around six million visitors—one-third of Britain’s population—and included prominent figures such as Charlotte Brontë, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Charles Darwin, and Michael Faraday.”
“Interestingly, Joseph Whitworth received a Council Medal for his exhibits at the exhibition held in the Crystal Palace, but the critical role he played in the building’s construction remained unrecognized until now.”
