The Prince of Wales' wedding 1863.

Bertie gets Wed !

Albert Prince of Wales, (Bertie) married Princess Alexandra of Denmark on Tuesday 10th March 1863. The above picture appeared in the Illustrated London Times, the wedding took place in St Georges Chapel, Windsor. The wedding was the social highlight of the year, there had been little to celebrate since the death of Prince Albert. The prince went down to Gravesend to greet the Bride and the Danish royal family. The roads all the way back London were lined with waving  crowds, which became thicker and more enthusiastic as the couple arrived in London,  the crowds were kept back from the road and carriages by the overuse of the truncheon by the London police. The royal party took a train to Windsor as did most of the nobility and aristocracy.

 The journey to Windsor was uneventful but the return journey with a lack of trains was what we would call an omni shambles to -day, with both the aristocracy and the hoe ploy needing to use the trains to get back to London. There are stories in the papers and letters and diaries of countesses MP's and even the Archbishop of Canterbury cramming in to third class carriages for safety.   The Marchioness of Westminster was one of these, she was wearing Half a Million pounds worth  of diamonds at the time.                                             

In Redditch a letter appeared in the February 5 copy of the Redditch Idecatuer from Mr Munslow suggesting“a Sunday school demonstration to be made in this place on the auspicious day. Carried out by committee composed of leading officers.........., and supported by public subscription”.

A committee was formed a meeting was held in the National School room. The chairman of the meeting used the opportunity to lament the limited provisions of rooms in Redditch that could be used as public meeting places. As he said the “constant use of the school rooms for miscellaneous purposes impeded the business of the schools”. The boy’s night School had been recently considered the best in the country by the school examiner.

On a the question of a general holiday for the workers, Mr Osborne said that he would be giving his work force a payed general holiday “he did not think it right to enforce the abstaining from work on such as could not afford to lose a day.” Mr Harrison thought the work force could make up six days in five. Mr James suggested” a deputation from the operatives to wait on the various Manufactures, to ascertain their Ideas and conveniences of the master.”  A cope out as some the workers would have to beg and then feel obliged to the master if they were given the time off.  A letter also appeared from a shop assistant asking if the shops would be closing on the wedding day as the shops Alcester and Bromsgrove would be closed.

Plans were put in place for the rifle corps. to attended a service in the new church on the green, lead a procession of 2,000 Sunday school children, then varies dinners would held for the church and chapel Sunday school Children. The Corp would have their own dinner and a concert which the ladies would be invited too. The fest ivies would be paid for by subscription, Birmingham was raising an extra rate to pay for the festivities, in Redditch some of the large fish hook man factors were suffering in a poor trading period, so this was considered not an option. Mr Osborne had thought of supplying all the children with Coventry ribbon Wedding Favours but the cost was too much. Mr Osborne hoped that people would buy Coventry favours to help the weavers who  were suffering economically  after the customs duty were abolished on cheap imported silk in 1860.

Oh and the claims of the ladies should be considered and a BALL was to be held, the first for several decades. 

The Rifle Corps Ball,

The Rifle Corps Ball,

The report of the ball in Redditch caused more than a little disquiet in Redditch, more of that latter. First to the ball  (which was held on the day after the Celebrations) and  the rooms the ball was held in, the National School rooms. Dancing took place in the Boys School, while supper was set out in the girl’s rooms. The reporter described the room as looking larger when decorated. The Ball committee had decorated the rooms with greenery and paper decorations. For the ball room. Mr Woodward had painted a picture of Windsor Castle with the motto, “on with the dance, let Joy be unconfined". This motto was consider 'very apt', for a military ball as the line came from Byron’s poem 'Before Waterloo'. The general comment was, "how Beautiful the room looks".

The company started to arrive at 8.30 and was only fully assembled at 11 O’clock. The guest of honary was the new High Sheriff of Worcestershire, Mr R Hemming of Bently Manor. As the Sheriff was late the dancing was opened by Lieutenant Bolton and Mrs Smith. At 1, O’clock in the morning the dancers broke off dancing and went to supper. This had been laid out 'with excellent and careful providence'. In the girls school by the Miss's Carstree's from the Unicorn Hotel. Mrs Hemming produced six dozen bottles of champagne which were considered a 'very acceptable addition to the general catering. When the dancers returned to the floor there was observed to be a fresh elasticity on the floor. A professional Master of Ceremony’s helped conduct the ball on the correct manner, as dawn broke the ball ended with a flurry of fly’s, and carriages. "It has resulted in the wish that another ball be held next session".



At the end of the report was a list of people who attended the ball, from Bentley Manor the High Sheriff and Mrs Hemming, and their party. From Foxlydiate House, Mr Collis his daughter and sister in law from Stourbridge, the French Consul from Birmingham. As well as the Whitehouse Family from Ipsley Court and the Smith family from Doe Bank, Astwood Bank. From Redditch some of the towns “principle inhabitants”, Bartleet, Beard, Boulton, Holyoke, Hill, and many others.  

The report of the Ball in the Paper included the illusion to fact that no balls had been held in the town for some time. Both the Fox and Goose and the Unicorn Hotel had an assemble room. But it was the 'dread of clashing of classes as to bannish balls ' and public Dancing for upper middle classes of town had 'been discontinued'. Thus," the company  on this occasion  made an abundance of blunders."  The tradesman's was not reported. And the following week a letter  in the Paper with the names the ''principle inhabitants' attached complaining about the report of the dancing. 

Around the villages

 

The villages in and around the Needle District held their own celebrations, on a smaller scale than the towns.

HEADLESS CROSS

 The Sunday school from the Wesleyan Chapel were lead down into Redditch by the town band; they joined the procession and walked round the town centre. They returned up Evesham road and promenaded around the village. The children were taken to the Chapel while the school rooms were made ready for them. While they had been in the town the school rooms had been used by 100 old people from the area who feasted on Beef and Plum pudding, and really enjoyed the occasion.  

The children were allowed in and soon as the young reporter, reported it.

“Such a battle was waged, children

Against beef and pudding, beef and

 Pudding against children. It would take

A Russell to describe it, at the beginning

of the Conflict it was feared

the children would conquer”.

From the report the children lost the battle with the pudding, but three hearty cheers were raised for the helpers.

 St Luke’s church of England Sunday school children were given Medals and Rosettes, and they too processed round the village. The children called on Mr Thomas one of the oldest inhabitants of the village he gave each an orange. They returned to the schoolrooms were tea and plum cake waited for them a number of elderly parishioners were also invited to share the treat.

Crabbs Cross & Hunt End

A eleven in the morning the children assembled  at the Weselayan School Room , here the 200 children formed a procession. They too were presented with medals and rosettes. The children paraded around the hamlets with banners, flags and favours, with a band at the head of the procession.  When they returned they were taken to the Malt house of the Star and Garter Hotel and had a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding.  After which the children went to play in a neighbour’s meadow. The Children’s dinner was followed by dinner for 90 mangers, Sunday school teachers and friends of the Sunday schools and next day,” forty poor families were proved with plum pudding and soup”.

Studley

The School children of the village had their fair share of roast beef and plum pudding and other delights. And the aged poor were regaled with a fine dinner the whole day was rounded off with a peel of bells and fireworks.

Astwood Bank

Over 300 children from the Baptist Sunday School with teachers processed to Doe Bank House were James Smith Esq. gave each student and teacher a medal with a red white and blue ribbon  After entertaining Mr Smith by singing several hymens. The children then returned to the school were the children were supplied with tea and plumb cake, then went to play cricket and foot ball in Mr Smith’s field. Meanwhile the teachers and some of the congregation sat down to tea. There was a magic lantern show in the evening by Rev Phillips and Mr Timpson which the children enjoyed. The choir sang ‘God bless the Prince Wales’.

The Rifle Corps Fete,

THE RIFLE CORPS FETE

This took place at four the afternoon of the 10^th after the other festivities had taken place. The volunteers did not restrict themselves to roast beef and plum pudding. Captain Bartlett’s “magnificent hospitality and careful for thought” had produced an abundance of culinary delights fish, fowl, veal, mutton a baron of beef. The barracks rooms used by the Rife Corps had been cleaned out and painted and decorated for the dinner and concert. The walls of the room had been Coloured  and the ‘ugly upsydown’ iron gas pendants   had been removed and replaced with more attractive brass and glass side lamps.

Tables were decorated with plums and flowers in moss stands with moss fruit baskets. The walls were decorated with banners, the British and Danish coat of arms. One was embellished with “Eldest son of the first house”, the Danish flag with its white cross on a blue background contrasted with the English flag with its red cross on a white background. Along the walls about five foot from the floor was a bracket on this were hung the corps rifles. The rifles had been festooned with garlands of greenery hanging in swags across the length of the rifle brackets. Each of the 60 rifles of corps was” charged” with a small banquet of flowers, these had been assembled by Mrs Bartlett , she and other ladies attached in one way or another with corps had been working hard  to get the room decorated.

Mr Woodward local artist and tutor to Mr Bartlett children, was responsible for the pictures painted on the wall. At the head of the room over the top table was painted the Rifleman’s badge, a bugle summated by crown and below the number of the regiment. Under this was the regimental motto, ‘pro aris et focis’ (for our alters and heaths) in leafage letters. Mr Woodward also painted pictures to cover two ugly windows, depicting the motto, one was of a church and the other a village containing homes from humble cottages to a manor house and all classes in-between. Around the room was a cornice inscription taken from Shakespeare Henry the fifth.  Decoratiting the Barracks was a Bartlett family affair as the children had made the letters for this inscription.

The table were set up in two rows down the length of the room with cross table at the head of the room were officers and honary members sat, this included W Smith Surgeon, the Rev Fessey (Church of England) Rev J Kendal (Catholic) H Milward Esq., Mr C A Bartleet, A G Baylis (needle Masters) Mr Castree (the Unicorn Hotel), among others. Captain Bartleet presided over the top table while Lieutenant Boulton and Ensign Milward Officiated at the other two tables. As the baron of beef was brought in the band played the ‘Roast beef of old England’. Once the cloth had been drawn the wine had arrived the toasts were made. To the Bishops and clergy of the Diocess, the Army and Navy and volunteers, Captain Bartleet for taking on the roll of organising the volunteers in Redditch since they were formed three years before.

Possable indirectly the most important toast was, ‘to the Ladies’ the ladies had not been invited to the dinner but they were going to attend the concert that was to take place after the dinner, and had arrived to take their places. Lieutenant Bolton gave the toast,

“To the ladies we are much indebted in many ways and, especially the volunteer cause is greatly indebted to the Ladies. Not only do they soothe and cheer us under any fatigues, vexations and disappointments incident to the services. But we must remember that we have to thank for allowing us to be volunteers (laughter) allowing us to go to drill –allowing our abacenence on all military calls, (laughter). Only suppose a volunteer asked by his wife ’were are you going tonight ‘? ‘I’m going to drill’ and she was to say,’ Oh! I can’t spear you tonight’, (much laughter).

This toast had an element  of recruiting about it, as some of the volunteers had come to the end of their three years  service and there seems to be a ‘fear’ that some of the wives would not   allow their husbands to signee up for a further three years. Lieutenant Bolton took the opportunity to “beg those who are willing to allow their husbands or Friends to enter on another three years to rise and bow” the few sitting and the many standing bowed, which ‘produced roars of laughter’. Captain Bartleet rose after the toasts and reminded the assembled company that most of the ladies had been standing for a long time. He asked the volunteers to retire and allow the ladies have a cup of tea and a seat.

The room was made ready for the concert which was not reported, a large part of the page was taken up with the toasts given at the end of the volunteer dinner. The concert finished at 11, oclock when Captain Bartleet and party left. However the element among the volunteers who had written to Indicator asking for a dance got their wish and dancing continued to three in the morning.

    

The PROCESSION

THE PROCESSION.

John Smith directed the procession; the route stared at Church green before the procession wound its way up Evesham Street as far as the Plough and Harrow (now a Car Park). Then it turned down Ipsely Street and continuing as far as Mr Baylis residence Grove house which was located some were near the old converted chapel, it then turned up Alcester Street before returning to the green. The structure of the procession was heavily regimented. A guard of Yeomanry headed it, followed by the brass band of the Rifle Corps.

Then walking four a breast the children of the schools, first the National School this was a Church of England school, they were followed by Redditch Wesleyan schools and the Headless Cross Wesleyan schools headed by their teachers and minsters. A second brass band lead  the next part of the procession, containing  the Free Church schools. The primitive Methodist and the independents schools they were followed by the last band and the Roman Catholic and Baptist schools. And at the tail end ‘Mr Baylis band of Arab’s, 200 children of no domination or school.

The children held banners, flags and favours aloft, wore medals and ribbons given to them for the pocession making the whole a lively musical scene . Waved too and cheered on by their parents and friends. When the 2,500 children arrived back on the Green they dispersed to their school rooms were a celebration dinner awaited them.

THE DINNERS

Around the town Dinners were being prepared ready for the returning children and the town’s elderly citizens. The children of the National school had dinner in their schoolrooms; the staple fair of all these dinners was roast beef and plum pudding. After the school children had finished their repast, they left for a field lent by Mr Milward so they could spend rest of the afternoon amusing themselves.  Mr Baylis ‘feasted his lot thoroughly and well, in a room nicely decorated ; then let them out ‘to grass in ’his orchard were they flung their  heels like young colts until dusk.’ After the National school children had their dinner the room was cleared and 500 old people of the town sat down to their dinner, the crowning glory was a wonder a 40lb plum pudding.

THE OX ROAST

It was proposed an ox should be bought and roasted to mark the occasion; the meat was to be distributed to the town’s poor families of the parish. The prim beast was bought for £20 at Birmingham Cattle Market, by Mr Thomas Briggs, presented to the mangers of the ox roast Mr Miles and Mr Briggs also dressed and prepared the Ox for roasting. On Monday Ox had its own procession, carried round the town behind a brass band, trimmed with decorations, flags, flowers and plumes. A fire  place was set early Tuesday morning and by one o’clock    carving up the ox had commenced, and by four O’clock only the bones remain, they were taken to turn into beef broth.  The mangers had overseen the careful cutting and distributing off of the beef to the poor families in the town. Captain Bartleets Children has some little shavings from an ox roasted whole... Mr Hemming  the high sheriffs children got a taste and the vicar’ partook of a little’, the mangers were well roasted but oversaw the distribution of the beast to the towns poor.

DECORATIONS

Flags bunting and banners were hung from houses, several schools had triumphal arch. The arch across the road by the Wesleyan schools was considered ‘nicely made.’ Both the chapels and the churches were decorated inside and out, St Stephens’s church porch was decorated by Leafage work in exquisite taste. Mr  A G Baylis of Grove house, built a double Arch with coloured lamps that  were light as soon as dusk fell.

ILLUMINATIONS

Mr Clift, Manager of the Redditch gas work had offered free gas for illuminations. However few people took up the offer the technical problems seem to be a barrier. The  three towns centre Hotels, The Unicorn, the Fox and Goose and Crown   had Stars decorating the outside of their establishments. George  Hemming builder and James Wright had a colourful  transparency with’ God Bless the Royal pair. An extra train was put on to take people to see the Birmingham illuminations.

Prince Albert Edward and Princess Alexeandra

The Happy Pair.

The Prince of Wales wedding Festivities at Redditch 1863

March the 10th 1863, was the wedding day of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and Princess Alexander of Denmark. They married at 12, O'clock at St George's chapel Windsor. Across the country in towns and city's and hamlets celebrations were held, Redditch was no exception.

A committee was formed, plans made across the Needle District.There would be a service at St Stephens, a procession, Dinners for the school children from the churches and chapels, as well as the aged poor. An ox roast would provided  dinner for the other poor in Redditch. The district would celebrate the wedding with brass bands, roast beef and balls.

The Redditch Indicator had  a  report on the local festivals the following week, the day started with a hard frost.

"Nature, herself, put on an exquisite suite of bridal white with silver

and gems. There was just enough of hoar frost to make the earth 

a mantle, while the hedges were all beautiful trimmings, and the 

trees princely plumes.

Church Service

A service was held at the new church on the green. The riffle  Volunteer Company marched to the church with the Band played "Hast to the Wedding". the congregation were given a copy Kebles wedding hymn printed at the expanse of the vicar. After a short service,'in the cathedral style'. The vicar concluded with a discourse. " The Queen and her late lamented consort had....... purified the court of long evil example", Albert Edward, "would  under Gods will, be one day called to rule over us, had been on this day untied to a princess in whom was united the the prospects of good by virtue, amiability, and beauty". The vicar finished his discourse by addressing the volunteer's "exhorting them to enjoyed the day with moderation and sobriety.

The company   marched out and formed the fourth side of the hollow square on the green, the school children and the local  resident's made up the other three sides. Captain Bartleet gave orders to fire " a feu de Joie,  the band played  ' God save the Queen' each time the volunteers reloaded. The school children had been taught the new anthem ,'God bless the prince Of Wales '. This was the so new to the children that many did not know the words perfectly. However ,"the of voices perceptibly increased towards the end of the second verse".