At a meeting of Glossop Borough Council in May 1897 it was debated how the Council would celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Some suggested there should be grand gifts like those made in 1838 and 1887. Some believed it should be left to others to provide these. It was agreed that there should be some form of celebrations for the 24,000 inhabitants of the Borough.
It was decided there was to be a thanksgiving service on Sunday 20th June, an address of congratulations was to be sent to the Queen and all the public buildings decorated. There were also suggestions of music, a firing of a feu de joie by the Volunteer Corps, the planting of an oak tree in Howard Park and treats for school children and elderly people.
One suggestion that was well received was an offer from Lord Howard to place a memorial clock in a new tower on the Town Hall to be started on the celebration day. The existing clock was a source of constant complaints as it ran too fast or too slow and showed a different time on each of its four faces. Even in 1860 jokes were made that when stopped it was at least right twice a day.
Thanksgiving Service
The celebrations began on a wet Sunday morning with a mayoral procession from the Town Hall to All Saints Parish Church, Old Glossop. At the head was Mr W. H. Hodgson, the Chief Constable of Glossop Borough Police Force. He was followed by Glossop Old Prize Band, the Volunteer Corps, the Borough Police and Fire Brigade and Churchwardens. Then came the Mayor and Mayoress, Ald. J. and Mrs Barnes with gold chain and ermine robes. They were followed by other Council officials and representatives from friendly and trade societies.
A well-attended thanksgiving service then took place at the Parish Church. Diamond Jubilee thanksgiving services were also held at other churches in the area including the Parish churches at Hadfield, Dinting and Whitfield and several non-conformist chapels. Sermons at the churches discussed the Queen and her influence on the well-being of the nation.
Old Folks’ Party
Captain Edward Partington, one of the owners of Olive and Partington paper mills, had made the generous offer of providing a treat for elderly people. The treat was for those over 60 years of age in honour of the 60 years Queen Victoria had been on the throne.
On Monday evening a sandwich tea was provided to about 1,100 people in the Victoria Hall. The provision list was long including 40lbs of currant bread, 4 hams, 3 rounds of beef, 2lbs tobacco and 100 pipes. Many good stories and lively reminiscences were told over the tea.
In the evening the hall was crowded to the doors and a programme of entertainments put on including bands and singers. Captain Partington made a short speech before leaving for Hadfield for the old folks’ treat he had given there.
In Hadfield the old folks had eaten their tea in St Andrew’s schoolroom. Shortly after the entertainments began it was announced that Captain Partington had arrived. He again gave a speech about the changes and developments that had been made during the 60 years of the Queen’s reign. At both parties he received a standing ovation.
Splendid Street Decorations
On Jubilee morning the town shone with splendid decorations. Tradesmen had competed with each other to produce the most spectacular displays. The High Street was covered with flags, bunting and bannerettes, which were strung across the roadways. There were also flowers, plants and ferns all around.
The Conservative Club had a banner on the front with the motto “God bless our Empress Queen”. The Masonic Lodge in Norfolk Square had a portrait of the Queen, coloured drapery and flowering plants and evergreens from the conservatories of Moorfield, the home of Anne Kershaw Wood. Around the entrance of the Norfolk Arms were fairy lamps of red and blue and the offices and entrance of Howardtown Mills was covered with bunting and streamers.
The Council had decorated all the public buildings. The Town Hall was covered with bunting and streamers. Over the two entrances to the market were bannerettes and streamers. Opposite the central window was an illuminated device ‘God save the Queen’ which was lit at night with gas supplied by Glossop Gas Company.
Temporary State of Completion
Unfortunately, the Jubilee gift of a new clock and tower that had been given by Lord Howard was only in a “temporary state of completion”. It had been intended to set the new clock going at midday, but not all the parts had arrived. This did not stop the celebrations. The scaffolding around the clock had been decorated with flags and the Union Jack placed on top. At midday one of the workmen struck the hour of twelve by hand.
The new clock was made by W. Potts & Son, Leeds. The tower was topped with a baroque cupola and weather vane.
Sunday Schools Sing
One of the main events of the day was the gathering of Sunday Schools. A procession of children made their way to the old cricket field on Norfolk Street where a united demonstration was held. There was a similar gathering in Hadfield at the same time. It was estimated about 9000 children took part.
Four pieces were sung – “God Save the Queen”, “God Bless the Prince of Wales”, “Home Sweet Home” and “Auld Lang Syne”. A grandstand had been erected in the field and spectators filled the streets along the ground. It made a very impressive scene.
Afterwards the children returned to their Sunday Schools where they enjoyed a tea which had been provided by Captain Partington. He toured round all the Sunday Schools to have a look at all the gatherings and was received with enthusiasm. He had also made a gift of commemorative medals to be given to all scholars aged 3-15. Samuel Hill Wood of Moorfield, one of the owners of Howardtown Mills, had supplemented this gift by providing medals to elder scholars and teachers.
Illuminated at Night
In the afternoon the various friendly societies made a united procession through Glossop in a mass of costumes and banners. They had then returned to their lodges for meals which had been gifted by Captain Partington.
In Norfolk Square Glossop Old Prize Band played selections of music and a string band played at Glossop Park (Howard Park).
At night the town was lit up with fairy lamps and illuminated signs on public buildings and shops and there was merriment all around.
Lord Howard had gifted a huge bonfire that was lit on Whitely Nab and was very successful.
An Address to the Queen
A lasting reminder of the Jubilee was sent to Queen Victoria. Glossop Borough Council had commissioned C. F. Weston, an artist of Talbot Street to prepare a beautiful illuminated address for the Queen.
This had been put on view at the Town Hall for everyone to see. The address was in the form of an album in a silk lined leather case. Inside the album was decorated various devices such as the Royal Standard, Union Jack and the Borough Arms. The album had been bound by Messrs. Palmer, Howe and Company of Princess Street, Manchester.
There were pen and in sketches of the Jubilee gifts to Glossop in 1887 – Victoria Hall, Baths and Park and Wood’s Hospital. Then came the address with a border of rose, thistle and shamrock:
“To Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen.
May it please you Majesty.
WE, the Mayor, Alderman, and Burgesses of the Borough of Glossop, most humbly approach your Majesty, and sincerely offer with feelings of profound respect our heartfelt congratulations on the auspicious occasion of your Majesty having completed a reign of sixty years.
Under your wise and beneficent sway, science, art and commerce have been so largely developed and advanced that your Majesty’s reign will ever be chronicled as an era of unrivalled enlightenment and progress, We fervently hope that Almighty God in his infinite goodness will be pleased to grant your Majesty continued strength and wisdom to enable you long to rule over your Majesty’s loyal and contended (sic) subjects.
Given, under our common seal, this 21st day of June, one thousand eight hundred and ninety seven,
JOHN BARNES, Mayor
CHARLES DAVIES, Town Clerk”
Jubilee Acrostic (in sixty words)
The whole Borough joined with the celebrations to honour the Queen. There were many celebratory poems in the local paper, the Glossop Dale Chronicle and North Derbyshire Reporter. This Jubilee Acrostic was sent in by Agnes. E. Hall of Hadfield.
“JUBILEE ACROSTIC (in sixty words.)
Victoria! Victoria! Our pride and Empress Queen,
Impregnable thou’rt held in our esteem.
Crowned, honoured, and upheld for sixty years,
Thou, joy hast seen, and war, and tears,
Oh! May God yet thy gentle life prolong
Right loyally we’ll echo this sweet song,
In truth and honours cause, thy word, thy bond
And may God grant the brighter crown beyond.”