Sepia albumen print

Acc.no: PEZPH : 2016.50.658

Identification

Item: Royal Visit to Truro 1903: Decorations in Boscawen Street

Description: This photograph is part of a series (0655 to 0671) relating to the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Cornwall in 1903. It was taken on the morning of 15 July 1903 as part of the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales (later George V and Queen Mary) during which they attended the consecration of the newly completed nave of Truro Cathedral. This picture shows the royal party in Boscawen Street. The decorations were part of a theme which was provided along their route, starting in Tregolls Road as they came into the city from Lord Falmouth's Tregothnan Estate where they were staying. The decorating committee employed a company from Liverpool (Messrs Wilkins) to provide the official decorations at a cost of £275. In an advert in the previous week's West Briton (WB) and Cornwall Advertiser (CA), Heard & Sons offered window space to view the procession in Boscawen Street at a cost of 2 guineas per window. A particular feature of the official decoration are the Venetian masts - 33 ft tall red pillars with gold finials. These were linked with festoons of garlands of artificial flowers. The masts were also adorned above head height with embossed shields each holding five flags spread out as petals. The banner above the road (at the junction of Boscawen and Lemon Streets) reads: "Let Happy Cornwall rejoice EDWARD now being King and George Duke" and the floral crown was suspended above the street. Describing the decorations the WB and CA declared "they produced a DECIDEDLY TASTEFUL EFFECT" (in capital letters).

Condition: Good

Description

Material: Photographic paper

Production

Method: Printed

Category: Photography

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