The Albert Palace

It faced, and formed a backdrop to the lake in Battersea Park, and was a re-erection of an iron and glass structure, like The Crystal Palace of 1851, which had partly housed the Dublin International Exhibition of 1865.

The day was wet so the 5,000 visitors mostly fell back on the indoor amusements – exhibition stands, aquarium, picture-gallery, refreshment rooms and bars.

In the gardens to the west, now occupied by York Mansions, crowd pullers included the diving bell, gymnastic displays and ballooning.

Easy access to the Palace formed the basis of hopes of success in attracting people from all over south London but visitors came in insufficient numbers.

But the stumbling block was that anyone purchasing the freehold would have to take it subject to the lease which, technically, still belonged to the original promoters – the Albert Palace Association.