Just 186 years ago, did your ancestors participate in celebrations? The coronation of Queen Victoria took place on 28 June 1838.
The occasion was not just a royal affair in Westminster Abbey. Joyful celebrations marked the occasion in marketplaces and usually tranquil village greens. This poster, for Wells, Somerset, vividly captures the amusements.
Here’s a newspaper report on the celebrations at St Neots.
A triumphal arch was erected at the entrance to the town from the bridge, in the centre of which was suspended a crown with V.R., composed of flowers, which was done by the Misses Brown, who displayed great taste. At ten o’clock the gentry paraded the town with a band of music and a beautiful banner, with the inscription “ Victoria ; long may she reign.” At two o’clock 1,500 sat down to dinner in the market place, the band playing. At four o’clock the sports commenced on the common, which afforded excellent fun :—the best race was between Mr. J. Smith’s and Mr. H. Shepherd’s horses ; donkey racing ; treacle-bun catching ; pole swarming ; grinning, &c. &c. About five o’clock the women had tea on the market-hill. A splendid display of fireworks took place at ten o’clock, much to the satisfaction and delight of the inhabitants.
My ggggrandfather ran a grocery and general merchandise store in the Market Square of St Neots at the time of Queen Victoria’s coronation. I sought his name in vain among those mentioned in your report. He died in 1865 in rural South Australia, having followed one of his sons to emigrate there.
Thanks John. But what the heck was the grinning competition? BT