Royal Deluge
Royal Deluge
by Stephen Guy
West Derby went wild when Queen Victoria and her family came to stay and it was a day that was remembered for decades - but not for all the right reasons.
The Royal visit on 9 October 1851 started well when the Queen, husband Prince Albert and their children were greeted at Rainhill station by the Earl of Sefton. He escorted the cortege on horseback five miles through the beautiful countryside in bright and cheerful weather to his home, Croxteth Hall. Local people lined the route to welcome the visitors. Lord Sefton's family and tenantry cheered as the Royals arrived. While the Queen and children settled in, the Earl showed Prince Albert around the Home Farm and estate.
Back at the Hall there was more jubilation when the Queen and children appeared waving and smiling at a window. The family stayed in a suite of six rooms - library, drawing room, two bedrooms, a boudoir and dressing room - all furnished and decorated for the occasion. They dined at 8 pm and guests included the Earl and Countess of Derby, Bishop of Chester and the Mayor of Liverpool William Brown.
In the hours before the Royals' arrival, there were endless festivities in the grounds of Croxteth (pictured), according to Illustrated London News. Several hundred members of the local gentry were entertained with lunch in a huge marquee. The people of West Derby and Prescot also made merry in community celebrations. However, storm clouds were gathering and the following day teetered on disaster as the Royals visited Liverpool in a torrential downpour.
Historian Sir James Picton takes up the story: "Such a day of thorough, drenching, unmitigated downpour has seldom been witnessed even in the humid district of South Lancashire." The route from Croxteth Hall along West Derby Rd, past Newsham House and the Zoological Gardens was lined with stands and platforms bedecked with bedraggled flags and banners - all at great expense. But there was hardly anyone to be seen - the streets were deserted as the horse-drawn Royal party and escort trudged to the centre of the town.
The rain-lashed visit included a river cruise, Town Hall reception and tour of St George's Hall before departing on the Royal train - no doubt with sighs of relief all round.
. Join the West Derby Society at the West Derby Courthouse in the (West Derby) Village - open 2 pm to 4 pm every Sunday, April to October.
This article first appeared in the West Derby Link
Why not take advantage of the Heritage Open Day scheme and visit the display rooms of Croxteth Hall for free!
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