So how did we mark the last jubilee?

“IN JUNE 1887 the county town of Warwick celebrated Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee with great gusto.

After all, capital punishment for theft was now abolished and Australia was protesting about Great Britain exporting her criminals. In 1837, when Queen Victoria came to the throne, 37mph was regarded as fast and now in 1887 the average speed was 70mph. Her Majesty had lived a “blameless life!”: 22 years married and nine children.

According to the Warwick Advertiser and Leamington Courier of June 21 1887, the weather was set fair and usually called “Queen’s weather”. At 6am all the church bells of Warwick rang a peal of jubilation. The town was well decorated with flags, bunting, mottoes, one street had Chinese lanterns and another (High Street) Venetian masts, wreathed in evergreen. There were three large arches, at the entrance to the Common, at St John’s and across High Street. These were constructed by Mr Frank Holt of Art Works at St John’s. The arch facing Crompton Street said: “May Unity and Peace prevail throughout the Empire” and towards the Common: “Warwick rejoices in the Queen’s Jubilee”. The one at St John’s was difficult to erect because of the tramlines yet, in the end, it said: “Hail, Glorious Jubilee” with the Royal Arms on the reverse side. (eight foot high). The upper windows of the Court House had shields of historical significance, the lower windows flowers from C Wilson, the nursery on Saltisford. Around the buttresses of Eastgate were two charming spar rockwork ferneries topped with flowers by Mr Richards, borough surveyor. From the castle turrets, church towers, all public buildings flew flags, standards and ensigns. The ledges of Dr Tibbits’ house were decorated with red, white and blue drapery. King’s Middle School came up with loads of Latin mottoes: Vivat Regina, Fortiter et Fideliter. Smith St had splendid decorations.

Neighbourhoods had been canvassed and money raised once the costs of this extraordinary day were known.

At 9.45 am the procession formed in the Market Square. Major Cooke was at the head of the Volunteers in spite of orders from Horse Guards NOT to take part, which was rescinded by the MP. After them were the Postmen, Oddfellows of “The Earl of Warwick”, “Loyal Oken”, “Loyal Percy” lodges. Then the Town Band, Foresters of the Courts: “Dudley” and “Beauchamp”. They processed across Corn Market down Swan St, High St to the Court House to be greeted by the mayor Cllr Stanton who received them with the town councillors, corporation officials, Non-Conformist ministers and some prominent citizens. They then proceeded to St Mary’s church.

The Jubilee service had all the choirs of Warwick (120 people), 13 Church of England clergy, four Non-Conformist ministers. From the new Jubilee hymn book they sang the “Old Hundredth”, Te Deum and the Hallelejah Chorus from the Messiah, then “Come all ye Nations” and “God of our Fatherland”. The collection took £11 7/6.

In Old Square, the procession reformed, this time with the co-operation of the Fire Brigade who turned up with the fire engine decorated with flags and followed the mayor all the way to the dining marquees. There were now two military bands and they marched down Market St, Bowling Green St, High St, Jury St, Smith St down Coten End to Broad St where the Exhibition Buildings and marquees were ready on Mr Lloyd’s field. For lunch there were 5,000 guests and tables for 3,000 were laid ready.

This mammoth task to feed lunch to a quarter of Warwick’s population was well organised. There was roast meat, beef, mutton, ham and plum pudding. The weight of the meat was one ton, 13 cwt, two quarters and 8lbs - ie 3,700 lbs. This was carved cold and served with salad and a quarter of a 4lb loaf of bread. Mr Hine, the contractor, stored the food in Messrs Nelson, Dale & Co.’s fridges then it was cooked in various domestic ovens by cooks who’d volunteered to roast it. Then put in those fridges ready for an army of carvers in the morning. They ate 2,500 lettuces, 500 puddings of 5lb each and 660 4lb loaves were cut into quarters. The extras were 56 lb of mustard, 1 cwt crushed salt, 25 gallons of vinegar and 3,456 quarts of “Sixpenny” ale from Warwick Brewery Company. The plum pudding recipe is itemised and we would recognise it in the 21st century as Christmas pudding. The final line of that recipe is “boil ten hours”!

Then the well-fed residents of Warwick and their children made their way to the Common for sports, 100 yard race and three-legged race. There were fireworks in the evening. The bonfire was built on top of Common Hill, organised by Mr Mitchell, Lord Warwick’s chief forester. At the top of the 25 ft bonfire were four barrels of tar and Mr Mitchell climbed the ladder to light the top of the bonfire, dropped the taper, and because it was a hot summer all the timber was tinder dry and it lit the base of the bonfire a second later, the ladder melted and Mr Mitchell fell into the fire. He was pulled out “slightly singed” and none the worst for wear! As dusk fell, on this the longest day of the year, people wended their way home with every window lit with a candle and admired the gas lighting throughout the town. The next day all the left overs were distributed to the poor of the town in four parishes.

n By contrast a decade later, Warwick celebrated Queen Victoria’s Diamond modestly, after all Victoria Park in Leamington Spa was dedicated that day, costing £10,000. Leamington Spa’s celebrations were modest too as they had a “small-minded Town Council”. Warwick felt its Golden moment had been so lavish in scale so they time it was modest by comparison.

There was the usual Naval review at Spithead, 25 miles of ships, 173 ships four abreast. The Countess of Warwick urged that more effort was given to educating the children in rural areas. Edward Montague Nelson was knighted for services in the Australian colonies, he was pioneer of the export of New Zealand frozen meat trade. There were whispers of the beginnings of the Boer War.

St Paul’s Church had a children’s flower service and the collection raised 13/- and a farthing for the hospital. St Nicholas’ collection was in aide of Queen Victoria Clergy sustaining fund and raised £30 14/3

The day dawned fine and warm, such that even Longfellow declared if fine for a day off and not for work. On Sunday there was the Jubilee services. On Mon the patriotic flags flew all over the streets, and Union flags fluttered from St Mary’s, the Court House and Lord Leycester Hospital. The Mayor entertained children at the Castle.

Dr Hubert Tibbits wrote about the huge bonfire on the Common in Warwick, three rockets and other fires lit in Ilmington, Brailes and Shutford, on the west you could see the bonfire at Yarningale Common, Rowington, Hatton Asylum, to the north Berkswell, Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill, Leamington’s was very bright, then you could see Naseby, Shuckburg and to the south east Burton Hills and Kineton. Altogether 62 bonfires.

Warwick’s bonfire included a ton of tar from Warwick gasworks, 4 loads of old wood from the Tramway Company; it was 25 ft high and 45 yds around. Warwick Boat Club had an illuminated water fete. There were rows of lamps on and around all their facilities, the new lawn tennis courts, in the bushes and shrubs and across in Bridge End.

On the walls of the boat house was a huge banner VR 1837-1897. There were 4000 lamps altogether. They had races of fours and eights. Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club failed to turn up so Warwick won that cup by default. As dusk fell “myriad lights” were seen on the “placid Avon”, boats appeared under Castle Bridge bedecked with bunting and lights and looked magnificent.