Back to
Home Back to Our Past
A Brief History of Kimpton Page 5 By John Pollington
19th
Century Village Celebrations QUEEN
VICTORIA'S GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR 1887 Queen Victoria's Jubilee was celebrated
in the village on 21st June. £65 was subscribed by principal parishioners.
Different farmers offered to erect rick-cloths, Messrs. Chalkley, Wills and
Goldhawk erected tables for 500, Cooper and Coleman provided 7501b. meat,
Sibley and Crewe supplied bread and cake, E. Crewe found tobacco, Armstrong
the tea and crockery. Money was set aside for prizes, £5 for fireworks and
hire of the band. QUEEN
VICTORIA'S DIAMOND JUBILEE YEAR 1897
It was a fine day and the village was prettily decorated. The flag flew on
the Church from 8 a.m. until sunset, and the bells were chimed during the
day. There was a Thanksgiving Service in the Church at 2 p.m. All the
children walked to the Church in procession led by the Fifes and Drums of
the Band of Hope. ·
After the service 340 children returned to the school, where Lady Dacre
kindly gave them a good tea (including those from Peters Green School).
The rest of the village adjourned to the cricket field (now the recreation
ground), where two rows of tables to seat 500 persons were arranged. The
covers stood at a special table in the centre, each served by a band of
honorary waiters. It was an excellent feast with ample food, and tea, beer
and ginger beer flowing liberally. Codicote Band played during the meal.
The Vicar Rev. L. Steevens said grace, and there were three cheers for the
Queen, and "God save the Queen" was sung. When the people had
feasted the Servers and Committee sat down by turn in a special tent. The
feasting was not concluded till near 6 p.m.
Sports and racing of every type took place in the afternoon, and then
dancing and fireworks about 9.30 p.m.
Invitations were given to all inhabitants of Kimpton and also Peters Green
and the men and families on the Lawrence End Estate.
A similar celebration took place 10 years later on 22nd June, to mark 60
years of reign. Again in magnificent weather, a tent of rick-cloths 80
yards long was erected, and 500 sat down to dinner at 2 p.m. Sports were
held in the afternoon, with tea at 6 p.m. The village band played music,
and every opportunity was given for an enjoyable day.
Unfortunately Lady Dacre had died the previous year, and this time the
children (250 of them), were entertained at The Park by Mr. & Mrs.
Hughes, where they had tea followed by a band, games, and every child
received a present on leaving.
Two days later Mr. E. Wix held the Annual Inspection of the School. The
school reports were not satisfactory, the school work had been much
hindered by measles in the winter when five children died, and the day of
examination was so close to the Jubilee festivities that the children were
unfit to be examined. So much so that the inspector had to abandon the
examination of the infants. When he returned two weeks later half the
children were laid up with whooping-cough !
John Pollington
May 1999
The original plan of the Victorian school in
Kimpton
|
Straw plaiters near
Kimpton church about the time of the Golden
Jubilee. |
|
|
Comments? Enquiries?
More information?