In England, the famous Crystal Palace suffers heavy fire damage in its rebuilt location in south London.

The famous giant pre-fabricated Crystal Palace building from the 1851 Great Exhibition had been taken apart from its Hyde Park location and re-erected at Sydenham, south of London. Incorporated with redigned sections, the "new" building, containing many of the original exhibits and display rooms was dedicated in 1854. In the afternoon a serious fire broke out and destroyed a large part of the northern end of the structure and its contents. The surviving displays opened as usual the next day, however, and up to 8000 people attended.  Fire did, however, see the final and total destruction of the Crystal Palace in November 1936.  (By John Osborne)