Queen Victoria’s journal: Victoria and Albert’s tour of Warwickshire (part 2), Tuesday 15th June 1858

In June 1858, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert embarked on a three day tour to Birmingham. Over the next few days I will be sharing her journals from throughout their trip before sharing an in-depth blog about her stay at Stoneleigh Abbey. I hope you enjoy!

“A beautiful morning with delicious air. Soon however, it became very hot, — We breakfasted alone together, & after writing, started at 11 for Kenilworth station, driving with Dss of Atholl, Ly Leigh’s open carriage. A broiling sun, but some air. After ½ an hour in the train, we were at Birmingham, where it was clear & bright, without a particle of smoke. Magnificent arrangements, the best, I have ever seen, the thousands of people all stationery, behind barriers, — beautiful, & really most tasteful decorations, with endless inscriptions, of the most loyal kind, — banners, flags, — wreaths & festoons of flowers across the streets in every direction, & so full, as to have at every turning, the most beautiful effect. There were some really very touching inscriptions, such as “The Queen, our nation’s pride”; — “God bless our Queen, a pattern to the world”; “Victoria, the Queen of Peace”; for dear Albert the following: the Pce Consort, long may he live”, & others, — much cheering & great enthusiasm. We went to the Town Hall, where the heat was fearful, & received, on a throne, 2 addresses (1 each) & I knighted the Mayor. After “God save the Queen” had been sung, The Procession continued, through countless thousands to the old Aston Hall, now to be converted into a People’s Museum & Park, & to obtain which, the working classes have worked very hard & subscribed very largely. Here we were received by the Managers & taken upstairs to rooms prepared for us. Many fine old pictures had been lent. The room in which we lunched, with our Party, Sir C. Scott, the Mayor, (Sir J. Ratcliffe) Sir H, Smith & Mr Brambridge, was full of fine pictures & beautiful pieces of plate, made by Elkington ornamented the table. Sir C. Scott a young Baronet, has had the management of the whole proceedings, & has excellent taste. Luncheon over, we went into a Gallery where we received an Address, & the Managers were presented, including the working men, to 6 of whom I said a few words. Next we went on to a balcony, from which the Park was declared open, & downstairs through the Exhibition rooms, walking once down, & back on the Terrace, the people cheering us so warmly. Dearest Albert is so beloved here, where he has been, I think, on 3 previous occasions, & his love for arts, sciences, his keen anxiety for the moral welfare & improvement of the working & middle classes, & the general enlightenment of all, is much appreciated: Felt much oppressed by the heat. I had been at Aston Hall, as a child in 1830!, when it belonged to a Mr Watts & also at Birmingham & Guy’s Cliff. — On the way back, when we left the train, drove to Kenilworth Castle, the ruins of which are beautiful. These too, I had seen as a child, & being very hot & tired, I did not get out (but Albert did) & returned to Stoneleigh at ¼ p. 5. — Dinner as yesterday, with a few alterations. Ld Clarendon, Ld Warwick, Ly Mary, & Capt: Fielding. Sat between Ld Leigh, who is very good humoured, & Ld Chandos, who is very clever & a very excellent person. Many of the neighbours came after dinner, & more relatives of the Leighs Sir J. Y. B. & Ly East, are old acquaintances of mine, also Gen: & Mrs Colville, & a brother of the Dowr Ly Leigh, — Mr Willes, wife & daughter. We walked out with some of the Party, to get a little air & it was very fine, though still wonderfully hot. At a little after 11, we retired. From our windows we watched some people on the river, young ladies sang, & we listened to the Band & the distant hum of voices. The people in the crowd sang “God save the Queen”, as they did yesterday. —“

Stay tuned for part 3 tomorrow!

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http://www.queenvictoriasjournals.org/
© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2012 © Bodleian Libraries © ProQuest