25 years had passed since King George V came to the throne in 1910. The World had been at war, millions of lives had been lost, and now Glossop along with many other places was in the midst of a great depression.
The cotton industry was in decline. Jobs were scarce and there were long queues outside of the labour exchange. The Glossopdale Industrial and Residential Development Committee had been set up in 1931 to try to encourage new businesses to the area.
Glossop was a very different place. The new Lord Howard of Glossop had sold the Glossop-dale Estate in 1925, soon after he inherited it. Most of the great old mill owners who were so generous with their gifts to the town, had passed on or sold up and moved on.
Glossop Borough Council were now responsible for most of the things that happened in the town.
Jubilee Day
The reminiscence of an ex-Glossopian writing to the Glossop Chronicle in 1977 gives us a feel for day in Glossop.
On the morning of Jubilee Day the town had been festooned with Union Jacks in many bedroom windows. Bunting was strung across the streets.
The crowds gathered in the morning at the Market Ground to watch the procession make its way to All Saints Parish Church, Old Glossop. The band led the procession followed by a “full muster” of Scouts, Guides, British Legion, friendly societies, town councillors and borough officials. Finally was the Mayor, Tom Farnsworth, who ran a fruiterer business at 112-114 High Street West.
Manor Park Gates
The procession made its way up the High Street and turned into Manor Park Road. Here they paused. Manor Park had been the grounds of Glossop Hall, the home of Lord Howard of Glossop. The Council had purchased the grounds in 1927, after the estate was sold, and turned it into a public park.
New facilities had been added in the years since. It had been decided that the Jubilee gift would be a set of gates on the Manor Park Road entrance. Over the top was an archway with the words “Manor 1935 Park”.
The Mayor formally opened the gates and was presented with a commemorative key by Alderman Buckley, Chairman of the Parks Committee.
After this short ceremony the procession moved on to the Church for a thanksgiving service. This may have been a change to the original programme, which was to begin with the service and then the opening of the gates.
Assembly of Day School Scholars
In the afternoon the local schools gathered on North Road football ground. The red-coated Glossop Military Band accompanied the singing of “God Save the King”, “Land of Hope and Glory” and “God Bless the Prince of Wales”. The proceedings led by the conductor, Captain Victor Furniss.
This was followed by a mass physical training display by the best gymnasts of the schools.
In Hadfield the assembly took place in Bankswood Park, which had also been purchased by the Council in 1927. They were accompanied by Glossop Old Prize band and conducted by Mr C. A. Blackman.
After the gathering the children returned to their schools for tea parties. Here the children received mementoes including a slim metal box with royal portraits and an inscription on the lid and a block of chocolate inside. Also a book with pictures from the reign of the King.
For the rest of the afternoon, people celebrated at home with their friends and families. There were a few street parties including Bernard Street and Edward Street. These streets were renowned for their decorations on all such occasions as these.
Bonfire on the Nab
In the evening, some had gathered in pubs or gone to Jubilee dances at the Victoria Hall and other dance halls and schools. Some made their way up the Nab. Over the weekend the local Scouts had camped up there and built a gigantic Jubilee beacon. This was one of chain that would be lit across the country. The ceremonial lighting was given to the youngest Wolf Cub present, eight year old Alan Dowling.
Some stayed for a short while before returning home for work the next morning. From the town the beacon could be seen clearly and many stood on their doorsteps to watch.
For most this marked the end of the Jubilee celebrations. On Tuesday evening there was a grand Jubilee Ball in the Victoria Hall. On Wednesday there was old folk’s parties at the Victoria Hall in Glossop and the Liberal Hall in Hadfield.