Sunday 18 January 2015

Queen Victoria visits Worsley New Hall: October 1851

In October 1851, Queen Victoria visited Worsley New Hall. This was the first visit to the area for 150 years! She was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington, who was a close associate of the Earl.

She arrived by train at Patricroft Station and travelled to Worsley New Hall via the Bridgewater Canal. The water was dyed blue and the Earl of Ellesmere commissioned a Royal Barge.


http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/aimages/T1701.jpg

http://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/img/cache/529f1a7e7f3eb7.68958888-7433-8QueenVictoriavisitingWorsley--history-large-12.jpg

The Ellesmere Polka was composed by Heinrich Blumer to commemorate the occasion of the Queen's visit.

 

Whilst Queen Victoria was staying at Worsley New Hall, she kept a diary - 

Thursday 9th October 1851 


Queen Victoria complaining about Salford weather!

'To our despair a wet morning, and hopelessly so! ... The road was lined with people, and all, poor things so wet! The atmosphere was so thick, one could see very little before one. Still, the reception was most enthusiastic, and the decorations beautiful. It is a fine town, with some very fine buildings. The streets were densely crowded, in spite of the horrible weather, and everything extremely well arranged, but the poor people were so wet and dirty.'

Describing her journey along the Bridgewater Canal: 
'The barge glided along in a most noiseless and fairylike manner, amidst the cheers of the people who lined the banks of the canal (the Bridgewater Canal) and passed under 2 beautifully decorated bridges, belonging to the villages, connected with the east collieries belonging to Lady Ellesmere. Two other barges conveyed the suite and some of the servants.'

Arriving at Worsley New Hall: 
'We reached the landing place in Worsley Park in ½ an hour and in 5 minutes were at the Hall door, where Lord Ellesmere, who is lame from gout, and walking with a stick, and poor Lady Brackley, who is so terribly delicate received us. The evening was so wet and thick, that one could see nothing out of the windows.'

Describing the Hall:
'The house is an Elisabethan one, only finished 5 years ago, — very handsome, comfortable and cheerful. The Drawingroom, is very fine, with 2 large projecting windows, and the Library is next to it, both opening into the Hall, which is arranged to sit in. Lady Ellesmere took us upstairs to our rooms which are very pretty; The setting room, extremely light, cheerful and comfortable, hung round with beautiful water colours, by different foreign artist. Our bed room and dressing rooms were close by.'

Friday 10th October 1951 


Queen Victoria visits Salford:
'At ½ p. 10 we started for Manchester, the day being fine and mild and everything "à soutait". Manchester is said to be 7 miles from Worsley, but I cannot think it is as much. We first came to Pendelton, a small place, where as everywhere else, there were factories & great preparations had been made. Schoolchildren were everywhere in profusion. Next came to Salford, where the crowd became very dense, it joins Manchester, and is in fact like Westminster & London... The mechanics and workpeople, dressed in their best & wearing white rosettes in their buttonholes, were ranged along the streets, both in Salford & Manchester, and very intelligent but painfully unhealthy & sickly population, men, as well as women, — they appeared to be.'

School children sang "God save the Queen":
'Before entering Salford, we went into Peel Park, the Mayor receiving us at the entrance and here was indeed a striking and I supposed totally unprecedented sight. 82,000 School Children were assembled... A pavilion was erected in the centre of the Park, under which we drove, but did not get out and here an Address was read, and the Children sang "God save the Queen" extremely well together...'

Returning to Worsley and visiting St. Mark's church: 
   'We returned as we came, the sun shining brightly & got to Worsley by 2... At 4 we walked out with the Children & the whole party, 1st visiting the Church, built by the Ellesmeres, which is very pretty... There were a great many people out, who frequently rather crowded upon us, but were very well behaved. We lastly went to the Garden, on the other side of the house. Came home a little after 6.'

Complaining about the weather (again) and watching an electric light display at Worsley New Hall:
'The evening very fine, but damp. Lancashire is very damp and muggy and it rains there almost more than anywhere else. The terraces in front of the house are very pretty, and the view from them very extensive... Several electric lights were displayed on the Terrace, giving quite the effect of sunshine, — really wonderful.'

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