During the 1920s and 30s frequent visits were made to the County Town by various members of our Royal Family. Queen Mary was a familiar figure in Shrewsbury when she visited her Brother the Marquis of Cambridge at Shotton Hall, until his untimely death in October 1927. Her weeklong visit in August 1927 to help celebrate the Marquis’s fifty-ninth birthday was perhaps the most memorable. On Saturday and Monday she spent a great deal of time in the town, shopping and visiting places of interest where she was met by huge crowds and with great enthusiasm.
On the Saturday morning she visited Captain and Mrs Dugdale and their four children who lived in Whitehall on Monkmoor Road. She was given a guided tour of the house and gardens and she expressed her delight for the magnificent Elizabethan Mansion and its beautiful surroundings. She visited several antique shops in town which included Wycherley’s in High Street, Reynold’s on Dogpole, Pyes in Butcher Row, Carter’s in Milk Street, Robinson’s in the Square and Kent’s on Pride Hill. While visiting Wycherley’s Old Curiosity shop she purchased some old English glass, some rare pieces of Battersea enamel patch boxes, a fine satinwood cabinet and a porcelain elephant carrying a pagoda on its back. At Mr. Reynold’s shop she was shown a modern Persian rug with portraits of the world’s leading monarchs. The Queen was not amused and told the proprietor that she did not think it a very good likeness of her.
Queen Mary at Wycherleys
Queen Mary walks to Mr. Wycherley’s Old Curiosity Shop in High Street. So dense was the crowd that buses had to be diverted and cars had to pass along at less than walking pace.
On the Monday she returned to Dogpole visiting Mr. Kelly’s shop where she purchased several antique Bristol glass bottles and on to Mr. Irwin’s where she bought an 18th century silver teapot. She walked to the Guildhall where she met the Mayor and Mayoress Ald. and Mrs Bromley and was introduced to Mr. J. Williams the Clerk of the Peace and to the Chief Constable Frank Davies. She was shown several of the Royal Charters given to the town and the valuable Corporation plate in which the Queen showed a great deal of interest and a keen desire to take home with her the beautiful Loving Cup and the magnificent Jamaican silver gilt centre piece but she had to be satisfied with a leather bound guide to Shrewsbury and a copy of the Town’s seal.
The following Wednesday was the first day of the Flower Show and the Queen spent several hours walking around the Marquees and touring the grounds. While visiting the main flower tent she was heard to remark on several occasions “What a wonderful sight.” One of the exhibitors, Mr. S Withers presented the Queen with a plate of nectarines, which she gratefully accepted.
Queen Mary at the War Memorial
The Queen admires the War Memorial as she leaves the Quarry after her visit to the Flower Show. Col. Heywood-Lonsdale is on the left and Mr. Adams on the right. On the extreme right in uniform is Chief Constable Frank Davies of the Borough Police Force.
The Prince of Wales was due to visit Shrewsbury in October 1927 to open the re-constructed English Bridge and a new wing at the R.S.I. but due to the death of the Marquis of Cambridge, this was cancelled. In June 1932 he did visit the town, arriving by air and landing his own plane in Haw’s Field in Harlescott. He was driven to the Castle between huge cheering crowds of people who lined the route into town. He was welcomed by the Mayor and introduced to members of the corporation, the governors and masters of Shrewsbury School and people represented in the public life of the county. After lunch the Prince received a rapturous welcome from hundreds of school children standing beneath the steps of the castle. Conducted by Mr. Rowland they sang “Gentlemen the Prince of Wales” written by Dr. Alington, a former head of Shrewsbury School. When they came to the last line they waved flags and twenty-four boys dressed in white with grey felt hats, stepped forward and saluted the Prince, who raised his hat in acknowledgement. He then travelled to Shrewsbury School where he was to lay the foundation stone for the rebuilding of the old school wall. Lord Bridgeman explained how the wall had been brought from the old school and contained the names of former athletes carved into the stone. Before laying the foundation stone, H.R.H. received a mounted silver trowel from the architect, Mr. J.A. Forsyth, and a mounted silver mallet from the builder Mr. T. Morris. At 3.15 p.m. several boys, some in A.T.C. uniform and others in top hat and tails were seen scurrying down the bank to the School boat house and in a very short time reappeared in rowing gear and launched five “eights” onto the river. Around four o’clock the Prince appeared and was accompanied by Mr. Kitchin the School’s rowing master to the boathouse where he shook hands with the Captain of Boats. As H.R.H. entered the ferry he was cheered enthusiastically by the boys of the school and the thousands of spectators who lined both sides of the river to get a glimpse of the Prince. He was then driven back to Harlescott where he flew out of town after an action packed day.
In May 1933,Princess Mary, the Princess Royal returned to Shrewsbury to complete a tour of all the county’s hospitals, which she had started in 1926. On her arrival at Shrewsbury Station she was driven through cheering crowds to the R.S.I. where she was guided around the children’s ward by the Matron and she showed a great deal of interest in the Maternity ward where she spoke to several new mothers and inspected the babies in the cots at the bottom of the beds.
The Princess Royal with the Earl of Powis
The Princess Royal arrives at Shrewsbury Station on 23rd May 1933. She wore a pink beige coat, green hat and a fox fur. She is escorted by the Earl of Powis and Chief Constable Frank Davies on the far left. Other members of the welcoming party were Lord and Lady Harlech and Major J. Beck, Chief Constable of the County Police Force.
After lunch at the Judge’s Lodgings, she joined the school children for the Empire day celebrations by thebandstand in the Quarry. The children gave a huge cheer as the Princess emerged from the Dingle with the Mayor Mr. Richard Mansell and conducted by Mr. Hipwell, they sang the National Anthem and “O England My Country.” After a few words from the Mayor the Princess pressed Mr. Hipwell for the children to sing “These Things Shall Be” and “I Vow To Thee My Country.” She then travelled up to Shelton where a lavishly decorated platform had been erected at the beginning of the new Shrewsbury By-Pass. She was received by many of the County’s Dignitaries including Ald. T. Ward-Green the Chairman of Shropshire County Council and Mr. G.A.V. Duckworth the M.P. for Shrewsbury. Before opening the new road the Princess was presented with a solid silver casket, which contained a miniature sword, both made by Robinson’s in the Square. Using the sword to open the road, she cut the ribbon, which caused two wooden barriers, hung with flags to rise into the air. To finish the ceremony she planted an oak tree before driving in procession the full length of the new by-pass.
The Princess Royal with Richard Mansell
The Mayor Mr. Richard Mansell escorted the Princess Royal around the Dingle. The paths were lined with girls each dressed in a delicately coloured frock and wearing a petal-shaped cap. Each child carried a basket of flowers and as the Princess passed gave a little curtsy.
On 16th April 1935 the 2nd Battalion of the K.S.L.I. left Whittington Barracks in Lichfield on a 200 mile march that would take them through a great deal of Staffordshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire. They arrived at Shrewsbury on 20th April for a weeklong stay during which time they were to be presented with new colours by the Duke of York, later King George VI. The Duke travelled from London to Wellington by train, then by car to Pitchford Hall, the home of Lt. Col. Sir Charles Grant, where he changed into uniform. He was driven to Shrewsbury, arriving at the Castle at 1.25 p.m. to meet the Mayor Mrs Marion Wallace Cock and other members and guests of the Borough Council. At half past two he inspected a guard of honour on St. Chad’s Terrace.
The Duke of York taking the salute.
The Duke of York salutes the guard of Honour on St. Chad’s Terrace. The policeman on the extreme right is Inspector Faulkenbridge of the Borough Police Force.
At a quarter to three he entered the enclosure in the Quarry to present the new colours. The service was described by the Chronicle as “an impressive ceremony, full of picturesque features,” and it was estimated that over 60,000 spectators crowded into the Quarry to watch the proceedings. With the regimental band playing “Death and Glory,” “ Boys of the Old Brigade,” and “To Be A Farmer’s Boy,” the Duke followed the troops and the Old Comrades up to Copthorne Barracks where he was introduced to the officers and their wives. He spent the night at Pitchford Hall before returning to London by rail from Shrewsbury.
The Duke of York presenting Colours
The Duke of York takes the salute after presenting the 2nd Battalion of the K.S.L.I. with their new colours. An estimated crowd of over 60,000 Proud Salopians packed the Quarry to watch the pomp and pageantry.