Yeovil Celebrates the 1911 Coronation
The 1911 Coronation
How Yeovil celebrated the coronation of King George V
George V (George
Frederick Ernest
Albert; 3 June
1865 – 20
January 1936)
was King of the
United Kingdom
and the British
Dominions and
Emperor of India
from 6 May 1910
until his death
in 1936. He was
the second son
of the Prince of
Wales (later
King Edward
VII), and
grandson of the
then reigning
British monarch,
Queen Victoria.
From the time of
his birth he was
third in the
line of
succession
behind his
father and his
own elder
brother, Prince
Albert Victor,
Duke of Clarence
and Avondale.
From 1877 to
1891, George
served in the
Royal Navy,
until the
unexpected death
of his elder
brother in early
1892 put him
directly in line
for the throne.
On the death of
his grandmother
in 1901,
George's father
became
King-Emperor of
the British
Empire, and
George was
created Prince
of Wales. He
succeeded his
father in 1910.
|
From the
diary of
Louisa
Harris ....
|
There was a special gathering of schoolchildren in Preston Park (see Gallery), despite the rain. Some events were interrupted by the poor weather but others were transferred indoors. Prizes of between ten shillings and £5 were awarded for the best decorated houses and business premises.
gallery
From the Stiby
Collection
(colourised),
Courtesy of South Somerset Heritage Collection
Edwardian Yeovil - the crowds in the Borough gather for the proclamation of King George V following the death of Edward VII on 9 May 1910.
... and another view.
From my
collection
... and yet another view.
The state portrait, by Sir Luke Fildes, of King George V on the occasion of his coronation.
Children parade through the Borough on 22 June 1911 to the Coronation Sports Day held at Wyndham Fields.
From my
collection
The procession passes through the Borough.
From my
collection
Sunday school children assemble in St John's churchyard.
.... and other schoolchildren assembled in Preston Park - despite the rain.
The above rare commemorative medallion in my collection was given by Henry Stiby to commemorate the coronation of King George V (reigned 1910-1936).
The medallion is just over 38mm in diameter and 2.8mm thick. The obverse carries profile portraits of the king and queen with "KING GEORGE" and "QUEEN MARY" around the edge. The reverse carries the edge inscription "PRESENTED BY MR HENRY STIBY JP. YEOVIL" and a central inscription reading "CORONATION" above and "JUNE 22 1911" below a central motif of St George and the Dragon. At the very bottom is "LONG LIVE THE KING".
From the Stiby
Collection
(colourised),
Courtesy of South Somerset Heritage Collection
Children assemble in St John's churchyard to celebrate the coronation. Many of the children are wearing the medals they have just been presented with by Henry Stiby (see above).
An enlargement of the some of the children of the previous photograph seen wearing their commemorative medals.
From the Cave
Collection
(colourised),
Courtesy of South Somerset Heritage Collection
High Street decorated to celebrate the coronation of George V in June 1911. Everyone got the day off and paraded around the town, like these fashionable ladies and girls in High Street (the younger the lady, the shorter the hem on her coat/dress).
The Liberal Club building decorated for the Coronation of King George and Queen Mary.
The Swan Inn (at left) in Park Street decorated for the 1911 coronation.
The photograph above was taken in 1911 when the Glovers Arms was decorated to celebrate the Coronation of King George V. In the doorway is William Bond, landlord at the time. You can tell by the fence in the lower right foreground that Reckleford was not very wide at this time.
Identical to Aplin & Barrett's standard Ivelcon cup in every way, but this special edition was a souvenir of the 1911 coronation of George V.
