How Oldham Celebrated the Coronations of Queen Victoria, Edward VII and George V
(from the Oldham County Borough Coronation Souvenir of 1937)
Queen Victoria |
Queen Victoria in Her Coronation Robes |
In April, 1838, a “highly respectable” meeting of the inhabitants of Oldham convened by the Head Constables took place in the Magistrates’ Room at the Angel Inn to consider celebrating the Coronation of H.M. Queen Victoria in a creditable manner.
Coronation Day, June 28th, was ushered in by the ringing of bells, discharge of firearms and the displaying of flags. A Public Procession of Clergy, Magistrates, Authorities, Trades, Friendly, Musical and Temperance Societies, Blue Coat School Boys and Sunday Scholars was marshalled in Lord Street at 10 o’clock, and paraded the main streets headed by the Beadles, Royal Veterans, Band, Colours of the Oldham Volunteers and Yeomanry Cavalry. An ox was roasted at the entrance to “Cock House Fowt,” and the scholars after the procession gathered together in Tommyfield, “and after being regaled with buns, spice cakes and tots of beer, all joined in singing a hymn or two and the National Anthem.” Most of the Societies had dinners and dances at the various inns, but the Temperance Society had a tea in George Street Schoolroom, and though in the procession they had displayed in a cart a loaf and a cheese of enormous size, the moral of the exhibit was lost upon the crowds, for “beer was supplied in abundance” and “ Free taps poured forth their streams all day.” A dinner also was given in Church Terrace Buildings to 429 poor and aged people at the cost of subscribers to the Coronation Fund.
An incident characteristic of the period took place behind the Albion— amidst exuberant rejoicings the Chartists called a large meeting which unanimously agreed to address a memorial to the Queen requesting universal suffrage and the abolition of various injustices.
Altogether from the day’s activities there appears no doubt that Oldham was at that time “one of the foremost towns in the kingdom in taking spirited proceedings for a splendid demonstration of attachment to the throne.” |
King Edward VII
The Coronation of King Edward the Seventh was celebrated on the 26th June, 1902. A Procession was formed at the Town Hall, comprising Sunday and Day School Scholars, Yeomanry and Volunteers, County and Borough Justices, members of the Town Council and Officers, School Board, Guardians, Freemasons and Trade and Friendly Societies.
On arriving at Alexandra Park the assembly was addressed by the Deputy Mayor (Alderman J. Hood, J.P.), the Mayor, Councillor Eckersley, J.P., being present at the Coronation Ceremony in London. There was a fanfare of Trumpets and a distribution of War Medals to Oldham Volunteers who returned from South Africa on the 6th June, 1902.
There were illuminations by gas and electricity and decorations at various places in the town, a Searchlight from Oldham Church, Bonfires on Oldham Edge, Glodwick Lows and the Coppice, and Peals of Bells from St. Mary’s Church, St. Mark’s Church and St. Thomas’s Church, Moorside, also Bands in the afternoon at the Town Hall, Market Place, Rhodes Bank and Alexandra Park.in the town, a Searchlight from Oldham Church, Bonfires on Oldham Edge, Glodwick Lows and the Coppice, and Peals of Bells from St. Mary’s Church, St. Mark’s Church and St. Thomas’s Church, Moorside, also Bands in the afternoon at the Town Hall, Market Place, Rhodes Bank and Alexandra Park.
King George V.
The Coronation of King George the Fifth was celebrated in June, 1911. On the 17th June, Dame Lees, the Mayor (then Mrs. Councillor Lees), performed the Ceremony of opening Copster Hill Recreation Ground. On Coronation Day, the 22nd June, a Procession representing Schools, Public Bodies and Societies, under the Direction of the Chief Constable (D. H. Turner) was formed at the Town Hall and proceeded to Alexandra Park, and after singing “All people that on earth do dwell” conducted by Mr. Robert Jackson, there was an address by the Mayor and the singing of the National Anthem. The Band of the 10th Btn. Manchester Regiment provided the music.
There was a Swimming Gala at the Boating Lake. A Searchlight, Illuminations, Street Decorations, Illuminated Car, Bonfires, Processions, and Field Days with Fireworks at Waterhead and Hollinwood were also provided.
On the 30th June each child in the Elementary Schools was presented with a Coronation Cup, the gift of the Mayor, and also received cake, chocolate and milk.
There was a Treat to the Aged on the 24th June, to the Deaf and Dumb and Cripples on the 1st July, and to the Blind on the 8th July.
Contributed by Jeremy Sutcliffe
