The Derby Mercury,
Wednesday, October 24, 1832
BELPER.
Yesterday about 12 o'clock the Duke of Devonshire and his illustrious
Visitors their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent and the
Princess Victoria, accompanied by a large party ... inspected
the extensive Cotton Manufacturies of the Messrs. Herbert Strutt
at Belper. ... The Royal Party expressed themselves highly
gratified with their reception, and with the neat and healthy
appearance of the persons employed in the Works, and were much
interested in the different processes of the manufacture.
The whole party afterwards honoured Mr. and Mrs. Strutt by
taking luncheon at Bridge Hill, and left about 3 o'clock, intending
to view some of the curiosities at Matlock before returning
to Chatsworth. |
The Derby Mercury, Wednesday, 31
October, 1832
THE ROYAL VISITORS.
MATLOCK. - Tuesday the 23d instant was a day of truly joyful
festivity at this romantic watering place. In expectation of
the arrival of the Duchess of Kent and her Daughter from Chatsworth,
considerable preparations had been made to receive them in
the most respectful manner possible ; indeed, the inhabitants
appeared to vie with each other in displaying their loyalty
and attachment to the Royal Visitors. Several large trees were
removed from Mr. Gilbert's Heights of Abraham, from which were
suspended wreaths and garlands of evergreens and flowers in
the most tasteful variety. Flags and banners were flying from
the church, and High Tor, and all the houses in the place.
The museums of Mr. Vallance and Mrs. Mawe were richly decorated
with a profusion of laurel and flowers, and suspended across
the road opposite to Mr. Vallance's museum was a large crown
of flowers, with six beautiful banners attached to it, on which
were appropriate inscriptions.
It had been announced that the Royal Duchess and the Princess
would probably be at Matlock about 10 o'clock, and long before
that hour the road at the entrances of Matlock Bath and the
Fountain Gardens were covered with multitudes of well dressed
persons, who were enlivened by the music from an excellent
brass band in gay uniforms. A few minutes before 11 o'clock,
the Duke of Devonshire's state carriage was seen advancing,
drawn by six horses, with outriders in rich liveries, and accompanied
by three other carriages, each drawn by four horses. The Duchess
of Kent, the Princess, Lady Blanche Cavendish, and the Duke
of Devonshire occupied the state carriage, and as it approached
a general shout burst forth from the assembled throng, mingles
with pleasing cried of "welcome". The Royal Party, preceded
by the band, passed slowly through the place without stopping,
and went forward to Belper to inspect the cotton works of Messrs.
Strutt (as noticed in our last week's publication). On their
return, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, they were again met
near Saxton's New Bath Hotel by several thousand persons, accompanied
by the band, playing "God save the King". Several gentlemen,
wearing blue and white favours, walked uncovered by the sides
of the carriage, and the Royal visitors, after calling at some
of the spar shops, proceeded to Mr. Vallance's and Mrs. Mawe's
museums, where they alighted and made several purchases, and
after visiting Mr. Pearson's petrifying well, they entered
the carriages, and drove off on their way to Chatsworth amid
the deafening cheers of the multitudes.
The Duchess and her amiable daughter expressed themselves
as being highly gratified with this cordial reception, heightened
as it was by the romantic scenery around them, and their affable
and courteous manners appeared to give heartfelt satisfaction
to every individual.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent and the Princess
Victoria left Chatsworth early on Wednesday morning, and were
escorted as far as Ashborne (at which place they were between
eleven and twelve o'clock by the Wirksworth Yeomanry, under
the command of Captain Goodwin. They were received amid the
ringing of the church bells and the enthusiastic acclamations
of the inhabitants. The civil authorities were in attendance,
and the whole scene had a lively and splendid appearance. The
highest enconium is due to Mr. Brooks, the recently established
proprietor of the Green Man and Black's Head Hotel for the
magnificent and expensive display he main on this occasion,
in the decoration and caparison of his horses and postilions.
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