Westow Hill

Crystal Palace

Above photo, 1883.

Above postcard, circa 1905.

Above photo, date unknown

Above photo 1968.

I have also seen this addressed as Upper Norward, which is not in Kent. It is actually on the corner of Crystal Palace Parade and the corner of Upper Norward.

The founders of the "White Swan" in Westow Hill were lucky enough to acquire what was soon to be a prime site and the Crystal Palace was thought of. After 1854 the pub quickly grew from a humble beer-shop to the large shown in this 1883 photograph. In 1884 it was rebuilt on three floors. Its decline has also followed the Crystal Palace. The third storey as removed in the 1960s, although I have been told this happened after it was damaged in WWII. The garishly painted fragment is now called Bluebottle.

It changed name to the "Westow House" as yet date unknown.

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