Queen Victoria's Visit to Wolverhampton


Queen Victoria's Visit to Wolverhampton - 30th November 1866

Click on the image to enlarge Resolution passed by Wolverhampton Council 16th November 1866 (CMB-WOL-C-COU/4)	Click on the image to enlarge Extract from Municipal Life of Wolverhampton explaining the proposals to make a memorial statue to Prince Albert.
Photograph of the coal arch that was erected near the railway station (V1/VIC/4)
Click on the image to enlarge Wolverhampton made national news. This report is from The Illustrated London News of 8th December 1866. The coal to build the arch was extracted from the Round Oak Works owned by the Earl of Dudley (L9p)	Click on the image to enlarge This report from the Wolverhampton Chronicle 28th November 1866 provides clues to the nature of the preparations before the royal visit.
Click on the image to enlarge Page from the official programme showing the route of the procession and the order of events (L9p)	Click on the image to enlarge The entrance ticket admitting an invited guest to a seat in the temporary grandstand to view the ceremony. Notice the authorisation of John Morris and the official seal of the Chief Constable (L9p)
Photograph of the royal procession at Snow Hill from The Illustrated London News 8th December 1866 (L9p)
Click on the image to enlarge Engraving of the scene at Market Place from Illustrated Times 8th December 1866 (L9p)	Click on the image to enlarge Wolverhampton made national headlines. Picture of Queen Victoria receiving John Morris from The Illustrated London News 8th December 1866 (L9p)
Many souvenirs including this postcard were made to commemorate Queen Victoria's to Wolverhampton in 1866 (V1/VIC/3) Mayor John Morris (1866-7) from Mayors of Wolverhampton Volume 1 (L92352) Click on the image to enlarge Visit of Queen Victoria 1866 (V1/VIC/1a) Frontispiece St James Causeway Lake School ( D-EDS-149/3/1) Page from the log book of St James' School (later Causeway Lake, Heath Town) showing how children were involved during the day. This school was in a poor district and the children presumably rarely had treats such as a bun and a commemorative medal ( D-EDS-149/3/1) Transcription Thursday 29 Work carried on as usual. Children much excited. Friday 30 This morning at nine o'clock the Rev. H. Bolland came to school and gave each child a bun and a medal in honour of her Majesty's visit to Wolverhampton. There was a holiday afterwards. Another school log book records that pupils processed to the town centre to line the route. Some head teachers reported a reduction in numbers at school in the preceding days. Presumably extra cash could be earned assisting workmen. Click on the image to enlarge Extract from St Paul's National School log book page 73 ( D-EDS-163/1/1) Transcription 29 Children excited & unsettled owing to the visit of Her Royal Majesty. Mr Sandford gives 1st Section a few questions to answer & a drawing Exercise (nothing to do with Inspection) ½ Holiday in Afternoon. 30 Assemble at 10.30b - walk in procession to Cleveland Street, join St. John's Schs: to view the Queen as she passes. Click on the image to enlarge Report from the Wolverhampton Chronicle 5th December 1866 describing the illuminations and the firework display. Photograph of the illuminations at Market Place (V1/VIC/5) Click on the image to enlarge Queen Victoria was so impressed with the reception she received at Wolverhampton that she told Mr Walpole the Secretary of State to write a letter to John Morris on her behalf. A poster was made from the letter and it is assumed that it was displayed around the town (L9p) After the royal visit some of the road names in Wolverhampton were changed. The area known as High Green and Market Place where the statue was placed became Queen's Square and the former Cock Street was renamed Victoria Street.
Click on the image to enlarge Directory of Wolverhampton 1827 (L91:17) Wallis map of 1827	Click on the image to enlarge Map of Wolverhampton John Steen & Co 1884 (L1884/2) Steen map of 1884 showing the changes in the road names
Page from the book Municipal Life of Wolverhampton including a description of Queen Victoria. Municipal Life of Wolverhampton GH Jones 1903 page 147 (L9)
Click on the image to enlarge Poem issued as a handbill and intended to be set to music (L9p)	Click on the image to enlarge Many national and local newspapers reported on the events of the day. The people of Wolverhampton found the image of the town portrayed in this poem offensive. This poem originally appeared in Punch or the London Charivari, 8th December 1866.
Click on the image to enlarge This is a response by the Wolverhampton Chronicle, 12th December 1866 to the poem in Punch magazine that criticised Wolverhampton. There were numerous incidents during the day including this pursuit by three ladies from prominent Wolverhampton families.
Click on the image to enlarge Extract from a souvenir book The Royal Visit to Wolverhampton published in 1867 (a copy was sent to Queen Victoria) (L9)	Click on the image to enlarge Extract from The Illustrated London News 8th December 1866