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Post by annedw on Jul 13, 2011 9:28:25 GMT
The Royal marriage of 1863 took place on 10th March, and was between Albert Edward, son of Queen Victoria, and Princess Alexandra of Denmark. They married at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Edward was 21; Alexandra was 18. After the recent Royal Wedding which was not really celebrated in great style , it is interesting to see what an occasion was made of the event back in 1863. Minera and Coedpoeth seems to have had an especially happy day. That was in the days before `elf and safetly ` would have stepped in and put the `mockers` on the festivities, especially the bonfire Attachments:
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Post by annedw on Jul 13, 2011 9:33:03 GMT
Wrexham Advertiser March 14 1863 Royal Wedding. MINERA. The inhabitants of this thriving and important mineral district were on the tiptoe of expectation for the rejoicing of the memorable tenth, and thanks to the arrangements of the committee, under the able presidency of the Rev. R O Burton of Minera hall and the active exertions of the hon. secretary John Fraser Esq. of Plasgwyn , combined with those of the worthy treasurer the Rev. Griffith Edwards. Nothing was wanted to make the day all that most enthusiastic Cymro could desire, in honour of his prince and lovely bride. Great had been the preparations from the lowest to the highest, willing hands and warm hearts had been indefatigable in their efforts to give expression to their feelings of loyalty and love for out good Queen by every outward show of respect to the Prince and Princess of Wales. Where so many are worthy of praise it becomes invidious to distinguish, but without in the least detracting from other noble efforts we will venture to say that few could possibly have done more than the young ladies of Loft Wen, unless indeed we except Mr and Mrs Low, who not only joined in all the public demonstrations but also contributed liberally by their labours of love to all the rejoicings. At about 12 o`clock the Vron boys numbering about 80 or 90 employed by Messrs Maurice and Low, assembled in front of Loft Wen, when the pleasing operation of having the `favours` prepared by the young ladies placed to their jackets was underdone, amidst the cheers of the spectators and merry music of the Adwy drum and fife band, who on this day made their first appearance in public and astonished all by their proficiency and good playing. Headed by the band, with Mr and Mrs Low in their carriage, and joined by several of the employees of the Vron, they marched amongst a perfect labyrinth of flags and decorations up to Minera achools, where some hundreds of boys and girls, neatly dressed and wearing favours were found assembled, displaying a perfect forest of flags and banners, with suitable mottoes and many having on them the plume and feathers. The worthy incumbent now appeared with the Rev. R O Burton both wearing beautiful favours and their canonicals, this was the signal for a deafening cheer, the echo of which was , as it was again and again , repeated by the surrounding hills and had scarcely died away, before Mr Lester, on a gaily dressed charger galloped up, to whom had been entrusted the marshalling of the procession, which was at once found in the following order. The Rev. R O Burton and the Rev. Griffith Edwards. Twenty yards in advance. Band; twenty in number, playing the `March of the Men of Harlech` Minera Schools; girls followed by the boys bearing flags and banners. Mr Low`s carriage richly decorated. The Vron boys and employees. Sunday school children from Penybryn, Wern and Plas-yn-Fron. Mr and Mrs Frazer with friends in their gaily decorated carriage all wearing splendid favours. In this order they marched to the Twenty Houses where a halt was made under a magnificent triumphant arch, and the already lengthy procession was joined by the Bethel Chapel Sunday School. Forward was again the word of command , but before the last of the immense procession had left the shadow of the this arch, the front ranks had reached another beautiful structure by the Wesleyan Chapel Coedpoeth. and the Sunday School children of which were anxiously waiting to join in, and just as they had done so another link was added to the beautiful chain by the children from Salem Chapel. "And winding down he hill they came, A truly noble sight; Another page in local fame, To shine forever bright." At Penygelli gate another profusely decorated triumphal arch was erected and before the procession had passed under it the Adwy Chapel was reached where the schoolchildren cheered the passing multitude and joined the ranks with colours flying. On they came , a never ending stream, under the beautiful decorations at Loft Wen and Offa Chapel, where the Sunday School headed by a beautiful banner and with flags flying joined the ranks amidst the cheers of numerous spectators. All the different schools had joined in without the least interruption or a moments delay, indeed “ all went merry as a marriage bell “ and turning to the left by Adwy gate formed a complete circle around the village on their return march. When the front had again reached Penygelli , the clear ringing of halt was again heard along the whole line, and as the march was uphill, it sounded bery agreeably, and was at once obeyed. Mr Lester then called for three time three cheers for the Price and Princess of our own native Wales, the noble son of Albert the Good and our well beloved Queen, England`s Hope , and Denmark’s fairest pearl. “ Shouts from the fav`ring multitude arise, Applauding echo to the shouts replies; Shouts, wishes, and applause ran rattling through the skies.”
When these had somewhat subsided, the band played the national Anthem, which was taken up by the whole line down to the Adwy gate. Forward again was the order until they arrived at Minera hall, the pleasure grounds of which were entertained amidst deafening cheers. A short halt was made here while the band played in front of Mr Burton’s noble mansion. The counter marching on their return from here presented one of the most picturesque sights we have ever seen, and without the least confusion all arrived at Minera school, when they were gradually dispersed to their several chapels for tea, about 500 or more remaining at the schools for that purpose. In addition to the children who numbered between about eleven and twelve hundred , the old people were also treated to an abundant supply of tea, and altogether no less that about 1,500 partook of ` the cup that cheers but not inebriates` Of the tea and arrangements nothing less than the most flattering remarks will apply, for all had evidently done their best, and what is more to the purpose gave every satisfaction. After tea, footballs, climbing ropes, foot races, running in bags, and games of all sorts became the order of the day with children dancing all kinds of never before seen or heard of figures; but conspicuous above all were the joyous laugh and merry shouts of true and hearty enjoyment often mixed with wishes that the life of the Prince and his bride might be as merry and as cloudless as the day, such expressions being sure to be followed with cheers. At a later hour, Miss Low presided at the committee’s tea table in the girls schoolroom and although many gave expression to the wish – “ Shades of evening close not o`er us” father Time heeded not this pardonable desire , and “ Home Sweet Home ` was the last order given and with the band plating. and one more cheer more, most of the children left; not so the adults , for an immense bonfire had to be lighted on the Minera mountain, the flames of which, supported by a great quantity of coal , tar , grease and other combustibles soon lighted the entire district, while many of the houses were also illuminated, and no less than a dozen fire balloons chased each other in their aerial flight, to the infinite delight of the juveniles, and perfect astonishment of `the oldest inhabitant` who had never beheld at Minera such rejoicing and illuminations before. Most of the captains and managers of the different mines and works in the neighbourhood joined the procession, and took part in promoting the enjoyment of the children, who will remember the 10th of March 1863, and in days far hence , tell their children`s children of the happy day they spent to celebrate the wedding of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. In addition to the above general demonstration, numerous and various were the different expressions of loyalty – cannons were fired through out the day at several of the lead mines , and a royal salute was given at 12 o`clock at Mr Lesters lime rocks. An ingenious mechanical contrivance was arranged in honour of the day by John Edwards of Coepoeth, whereby two eight day clocks chimed continually, but alternatively, from seven in the morning until seven in the evening; space however will not allow us to enumerate further, or columns might be filled with similar instances of enthusiastic loyalty.
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Post by ago on Aug 27, 2013 20:13:04 GMT
hello annedw, I was doing a garage clear out and came across an invitation to a countess dowager brassey to attend the coronation of their majesties king George the 6th and queen Elizabeth 1937, think I bought it at chirk car boot sale a long time ago, may be of interest.
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Post by ago on Aug 27, 2013 20:14:10 GMT
and the back,
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Post by tominera on Sept 2, 2013 9:45:55 GMT
Hi Annette, Really enjoyed reading your post and thanks for going to so much trouble printing it all out Regards Tom
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Post by annedw on Sept 4, 2013 19:16:26 GMT
Nice find Ago, and there is little local connection. The Countess Dowager Brassey. was Lady Idina Mary Nevill, she was the wife of Thomas Allnutt Brassey, 2nd Earl Brassey (7 March 1863 – 12 November 1919). Thomas Alnutt Brassey was the son of Thomas Brassey, 1st Earl Brassey (11 February 1836 – 23 February 1918, and he was the son of Thomas Brassey (7 November 1805 – 8 December 1870) who was responsible for building much of the world's railways in the 19th century. There is a memorial bust of him in Chester Cathedral , he was born in Buerton in 1805 near Alford, by Chester so that`s close enough for me . By the way Tom, the first post about the wedding has been on the site since 2011, nice to see someone has spotted it at last
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Post by ago on Sept 5, 2013 18:47:31 GMT
this was also amongst other documents invitation 10 downing street
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