Crystal Palace Park Maze

Crystal Palace Park Maze entrance, 12 August 2016

Not much remains of the Victorian aspect of the maze in Crystal Palace Park.  The whole thing is hidden behind a screen of trees, and it was badly out of condition in the 1980s until it was replanted in 1987. 

You can just see through the gate that the hedge is not particularly tall, only waist high.  It doesn't block your view at all, but that doesn't make it easier to get to the centre.  There's an escape route straight out from there, but once you are in the depths of the maze that does not help.

Crystal Palace Park Maze escape gate, 12 August 2016

This escape gate seems to be an original feature.  I think the posts were renewed at the time of the replanting. 

Since I lived nearby, the centre has been remodeled to feature paving decorated with a plan of the maze, installed by the Girl Guides organisation. 

Crystal Palace Park Maze centre feature, 12 August 2016

You can't step back far enough to get it all into a photo.  This is all very well, but when I lived there, the centre had a signpost showing the directions and names of the various entrances to the park.

Crystal Palace Park Maze centre signpost, 1990s.

You could see it from within the maze, and the helpful directions seemed to mock your attempts to actually reach the thing.  I liked this, clearly a Victorian original, and I wish they had retained it.