It was lovely to see the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations earlier this month. There has only been one other Diamond Jubilee Celebration in the past and that was held on the 22nd June, 1897 to celebrate the 60th year of Queen Victoria's reign.
On the 23rd September, 1896, Queen Victoria became the longest reigning monarch surpassing the reign of her grandfather, George III.
A diamond anniversary would normally celebrate 75 years but in the case of a monarch, it is celebrated in the 60th year. Originally, it was brought forward during Victoria's reign because she had been out of the public eye for so long after the death of husband, Prince Albert, in 1861.
Celebrations were held up and down the country for the Jubilee and there were gatherings on the Hoe and all over Plymouth. Back in a time when there was no television or cinema, everyone came out in their thousands to take part in the events.
Two of the photos here show the huge bonfires that were set up on Plymouth Hoe. Beacons were set alight all over the country to mark the celebration. The history of beacons being lit across the country spans back many hundreds of years and was once used as a means of communication between towns and villages. Beacons were also lit during Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee in 1977.
The other photos shown here show much activity taking place at West Hoe with many people taking rides on huge swing-boats erected there. Everyone has turned out in their finest clothes. The final photo shows Old Town Street decorated and festooned with flags.
Buildings in and around Plymouth that were erected to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee include the Turnchapel Jubilee Hall and the Technical College in Paradise Road in Devonport.
Victoria Park was named after the Queen, as were many other streets and locations in the area. However, the park wasn't finished in time for the Diamond Jubilee and didn't open until 1905.
In 1887, festivities for the Diamond Jubilee lasted two days covering 20th and 21st June. It concluded with a procession through London which, according to Mark Twain who witnessed it, 'stretched to the limit of sight in both directions'.
Queen Victoria was born on 24th May 1819 in London and was the only child of Edward, the Duke of Kent, and Victoria Maria Louisa of Saxe-Coburg.
At the age of 18, she succeeded her uncle, William IV to the throne in 1837. She married her first cousin, Prince Albert, in 1840 and they had 9 children. When Albert died, Victoria never recovered from his death and remained in mourning until she herself died 40 in 1901 almost 4 years after her Diamond Jubilee. It'll probably be a very long time before another monarch celebrates their Diamond Jubilee so I hope you made the most of the celebrations earlier this summer!
(Photos courtesy of Chris Goddard and Plymouth City Council Libraries)
