Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
I have just come across a page of the old Dover Chronicle (March 14 1863), which gave a very long detailed report on the wedding of Prince Albert Edward to Princess Alexandra in March of that year.
Also are accounts of some (local) celebrations, including this report about Tilmanstone, where (former MP) for Dover, Edward Royds Rice, organised a day of celebration for villagers,
(note - it snowed at Tilmanstone):
THE ROYAL MARRIAGE and local celebrations:
On Tuesday last at half past twelve o'clock was solemnized at St George's Chapel, Windsor, the marriage of His Royal Highness Albert Edward Prince of Wales, with Her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra Caroline Maria Charlotte Louisa Julia, the eldest daughter of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess Christian of Denmark.
TILMANSTONE:
This usually quiet little village was on Tuesday the scene of universal festivity and merry-making, E.R. Rice Esq. with his usual liberality, providing an excellent and substantial dinner for every working man and boy in the parish, upwards of one hundred in number.
The large coach-houses at Dane Court were thrown into one, and tastefully arranged and fitted up as a grand banquetting hall for the occasion. So abundant was the supply of provisions, that the tables groaned beneath the weight of jolly rounds of beef and smoking legs of mutton, with profuse vegetable accompaniments and an array of colossal rich plum-puddings; nor was the 'brown October' forgotten for XXX was supplied in unlimited quantity. The Revd Mr Rice courteously presided over the feast, supported by the Revd. Robert Twigg, and the farmers and tradesmen of the village.
Justice having been done to the good things provided, the usual loyal toasts were ably given by the Revd Chairman, that of 'Long Life and Happiness to the Prince and Princess of Wales', eliciting such a lusty and long continued cheer as in the wide world is only heard from the throats of stalwart happy Englishmen and fairly startling the colony of grave old rooks in the neighbouring avenue of trees out of their propriety, 'Better Health to the Donor of the Feast, E.R.Rice Esq.' was very feelingly given by Mr Simpson, the respected Steward and drunk with the best wishes for a speedy recovery plainly written on every weather-beaten face present. While the men and lads were thus enjoying themselves, the women and children were indulging in a cup of bohea at home, plum-cake, tea and sugar having been distributed to every cottage.
It had been arranged that after dinner the men should repair to a spacious booth erected in the Park, where sundry more barrells of XXX pipes, and tobacco, were at their service and where the women and children had already assembled for whom cake, oranges, nuts etc. had been prepared. The day was then to be wound up by dancing, foot races and other rustic sports, for which prizes were to be awarded in useful articles of clothing, a large quantity of coats, jackets, waistcoats, trousers, shirts, hats, dresses etc. having been provided for that purpose.
However, at this juncture, the snow fell fast and thick and the sport feature of the programme was obliged to be postponed to a finer day.
At seven o'clock in the evening, the farmers and tradesmen mustered at the Three Colts Inn* and partook of an excellent dinner served up in mine host Simmons's best style. The song and the toast went merrily round till midnight, and thus finished a day that will be long and gratefully remembered by every inhabitant of the village."
(* The Three Colts was the name of the pub in Upper Street, later named the Three Ravens)
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Those were the days. Our own little Lark Rise to Candleford story!
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
I like anything like this,its shows the very best of the UK.
No where in the whole world can put this kind of event better then the UK a very big+for funding to.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
The newspaper, after the village, goes on to give a VERY long report of the Dover Celebrations, for the Royal Wedding, which I have taken extracts from.
I think it is worth reflecting on the efforts of everyone concerned, in organising celebrations, and the enthusiasm of everyone in celebrating a special occasion...
Here is the FIRST PART of my edited notes...
THE TENTH OF MARCH IN DOVER ....
- extracts from the Dover Chronicle (long) reports of celebrations in Dover for the marriage of the Prince of Wales to the Princess Alexandra in 1863:
"Great was the concourse of spectators and sight-seers, which poured into our principal thoroughfares, not only from every court, crescent, terrace and alley in Dover but from the whole surrounding neighbourhood....
".... last touches being given to the decorations of the ball-room, the mottoes and transparencies of the illuminations ... while the thousands of happy youngsters were congregating from every quarter with flags and streamers, to the music of their own cheering voices, after partaking the good things provided for them...
Parties of the Kent Mounted Riflemen in uniform, of the Cinque Ports Artillery and Rifles, civilians, redcoats and others, were to be seen promenading the streets...
PROCESSION:
".. at eleven o'clock the Volunteers and various Societies intending to take part in the public procession commenced to assemble at the Market Place, the respective positions they were to occupy being denoted by small staves planted in the ground.. ... by 12 o'clock immediately started on the route ... first the band and members of 1st Cinque Ports Volunteer Artillery Corps, who had donned their new "busbies" for the first time in public and which harmonized with the other parts of their uniform.
Next followed the Mayor, James Worsfold Esq. in his robes of office, several members of the Corporation, mace bearer and town officers.. then members of the Odd Fellows and Foresters with splendid banners, and two attired as 'Little Johns' armed with bows and arrows; the men of the coastguard service, revenue cutters, with banner and four union jacks, and inhabitants some on horseback and some on foot.
Route taken was Castle Street, Woolcomber Street, down Snargate Street over the bridges, and onto the Marine Parade again, where they joined the military who had marched from the Heights and Castle, in a line.
At one o'clock a salute of guns thundered out from the Western Heights and Castle batteries and a rattling volley was discharged from the military on the seaboard, the band of the 59th Regt playing the National Anthem. This was repeated three times in the same order.... ..
TUESDAY:
"..... On Tuesday masses congregated in Dover to witness the feu de joie - including a school from Beakesbourne with blue dresses and red cloaks...
"A public dinner was held at the Shakespeare Hotel - forty of the principal tradesmen of Dover sat down to a repast served up in the usual recherche style by this establishment... the company afterwards dispersed to witness the illuminations and fireworks, afterwards re-assembling. An Officers' luncheon was held at the Castle in the afternoon.
"At 2 o'clock 100 Odd Fellows and Foresters sat down to a cold collation in the Market which by much decorating had been transformed into a comfortable looking dining hall. The task of providing this party was undertaken by Mr Ray of the Walmer Castle Inn. In the evening singing and dancing.. the wives and female friends of the members being admitted.. celebrations here continued till far beyond midnight.
"Arrangements at the pier end of the town.. roasting of a whole sheep given by Revd Yate to the Dover boatmen... erection of a stone range at the entrance to Council house Street...
at the time appointed the animal was declared done "to a turn"... served up with sundry accessories in the shape of vegetables, beer &c to about forty of the boatmen, the use of the large room at the Custom House having been obtained for that purpose.
"The School children of St John's Mariners Church, about 300 assembled and with their flags and banners afterwards paraded some of the streets in the Pier district. On return their little hearts were made glad by the presentation of a plum-cake, a threepenny piece and a favor of Coventry ribbon to each child. The entire cost defrayed by the minister of the church, Revd W. Yate.
"Also through the liberality of Mr Yate the Coastguard men stationed at Dover and crews of the Revenue cutters were entertained to sumptuous dinner of roast beef and plum pudding &c in the school room of St Johns, and each man drunk the health in a bumper of wine.
"Old folks of various churches and chapels were provided for by subscriptions made among the various congregations. In connection with Christ Church, a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding was given to every person over fifty-five years of age and to every widow.
"At Trinity Church, 120 of the poor of the pier district were feasted on roast beef, plum pudding and ale.. . special thanks were due to the proprietors of the Ship Hotel, Mr Hipgrave of the Gun, Messrs Jeken and Co, Mr H. Cliffe and Messrs Page for liberal contributions.
A magnificent joint of beef weighing 40 lbs was contributed from the first of these. After dinner the National Anthem, and toasts.... and three times three cheers for the Queen and Prince and Princess of Wales.
to be continued...
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
I have now put the complete notes I made, on the Royal Wedding in1863, on the Dover Society website, under Royal Occasions,
link:
http://www.doversociety.org.uk/89-Edward+VII.html
anyone wishing to read the whole account of the various things that happened in Dover for that event can do so there.
K.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
absolutely fascinating stuff, the use of the english language is astonishing.
a few words in those articles would not be recognised by some today.
i wonder if the average farm labourer would have been familiar with the words, or were the newspapers read mainly by the middle class of the day.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
Our wonderful English language was used to good effect, and newspaper journalists were undoubtedly super-skilled with words and use of vocabulary, I love their descriptive artistry, unlike many people of today.
(sorry I didn't put the correct link)
http://www.doversociety.org.uk/89-Edward+VII.html---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred
