Celebration Photos Photos Augustus F Perren February 2025
This amazing photograph shows the Friendly Societies gathering after a special service at Box Church before parading for celebratory events at Fete Fiield (now Bargates). The elaborately embroidered banner in the foreground belongs to the Bold Robin Hood Court of the Ancient Order of Foresters with a committee member bearing a ceremonial sword and mace. A band marches between the two banners.
The second banner carries the Foresters motto saying "Go thou and do likewise", which repeats Christ's words in the parable about showing mercy and compassion to those in need. (Luke 10:37). The year is uncertain but probably 1897 as part of the year- long celebrations for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee when the village subscribed to have a clock installed in the tower of the recently built Box Schools (see below).
The second banner carries the Foresters motto saying "Go thou and do likewise", which repeats Christ's words in the parable about showing mercy and compassion to those in need. (Luke 10:37). The year is uncertain but probably 1897 as part of the year- long celebrations for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee when the village subscribed to have a clock installed in the tower of the recently built Box Schools (see below).
This photograph has deteriorated but is an important record of Box's history. It shows the village fete procession gathering at Fete Field (now Bargates). Notice the wooden hut at the entrance collecting funds from visitors to donate to the Royal United Hospitals, Bath. Houses on Quarry Hill can be seen top right. The tents and caravans on the field were for amusements and fun.
|
|
The above leaflet was included in Augustus' family archives. Luckily for us, Augustus kept a record of celebrations for the 21 June 1897 Diamond Jubilee activities in Box, in which he was directly involved. The details left record that, as well as the Foresters Friendly Society, the procession included the Northey Lodge of Oddfellows, the Wilts Friendly Society, the band of the 1st Volunteers Somerset Light Infantry and the Box Battalion. The original procession went from the Schools to Box Church for a special service led by the vicars of Ditteridge and Box. Thereafter it reassembled and processed to Fete Field where the Volunteers fired a royal salute and led three cheers to the Queen. There a lunchtime dinner was served to all adults over the age of 15 years and later an afternoon tea was given to children at 3pm. Men employed on the railway and parishioners unable to be present had dinner sent to them. Sports races for adults and children and prize-giving followed the afternoon tea, as did dancing and amusements. After 9 o'clock residents found their way to Kingsdown where Augustus received special praise for his work in co-ordinating the lighting of a bonfire at 10pm accompanied by the firing of signal rockets.
The accounts (above right) show that subscriptions mounted to £145.18s but that was sufficient to pay for the band, food, prizes, drinks, tents, table hire, and fireworks. There was even a profit made on the event of £2.7s.11d.
The accounts (above right) show that subscriptions mounted to £145.18s but that was sufficient to pay for the band, food, prizes, drinks, tents, table hire, and fireworks. There was even a profit made on the event of £2.7s.11d.
Some of the children taking part in the Pastoral Operetta (Photo courtesy Jane Browning)
Pastoral Operetta, 1899
As part of the fundraising events for the restoration of Box Church in 1898, major community events were arranged throughout the village of Box. Mrs Amelia Watson, widow, allowed use of the lawn in front of her residence, Box House, for a substantial event in 1899.[1] There was something for everyone with a Japenese lantern display, fairy lights on trees and shrubs behind the lawn, and an acetylene light operated by Daniel Bingham, who later donated the village Bingham Hall.[2]
The most significant entertainment was put on by 50 children from Box School who enacted a Pastoral Operetta with the theme of Bo-Peep and Boy Blue. All of the performers wore fancy dress and the work was performed on a raised stage illuminated by Daniel Bingham.[3] The newly-appointed curate of Box Church, Rev Bernard Everett, was responsible for rehersing the children in the libretto written by G Clifton Bingham and the music by Florian Pascal. The Misses Vezey skilfully made all the attractive costumes.
As part of the fundraising events for the restoration of Box Church in 1898, major community events were arranged throughout the village of Box. Mrs Amelia Watson, widow, allowed use of the lawn in front of her residence, Box House, for a substantial event in 1899.[1] There was something for everyone with a Japenese lantern display, fairy lights on trees and shrubs behind the lawn, and an acetylene light operated by Daniel Bingham, who later donated the village Bingham Hall.[2]
The most significant entertainment was put on by 50 children from Box School who enacted a Pastoral Operetta with the theme of Bo-Peep and Boy Blue. All of the performers wore fancy dress and the work was performed on a raised stage illuminated by Daniel Bingham.[3] The newly-appointed curate of Box Church, Rev Bernard Everett, was responsible for rehersing the children in the libretto written by G Clifton Bingham and the music by Florian Pascal. The Misses Vezey skilfully made all the attractive costumes.
Photo courtesy Jane Browning
The performance started at sunset with children dressed as merry shepherds and shepherdesses on stage singing a welcoming chorus in a land called Arcadia (implying a garden of harmony and bounty). Leading roles were performed by Ada Emsley aged 14 of Myrtle Cottage (Boy Blue) and Elizabeth McIlwraith aged 13 from Alcombe (Bo-Peep). The Wiltshire Times newspaper listed all the children who took part.[4]
Courtesy Jane Browning
Augustus took the photographs to commemorate the event and one was presented to each family involved in the production, with the intention that other copies would be bought to be sent to other family members.
Coronation, 1902
Coronation, 1902
1902 Coronation celebrations at Fete Field (Photo courtesy David Pollard)
Augustus was the official village photographer for the numerous events of Edwardian Box. He was on the organising committee to celebrate the coronation of Edward VII in August 1902.
Coronation, 1911
Only a few years later there was a further coronation celebrating the new reign of King George V (above and below courtesy Ainsley and Shirley Goulstone). They are a fabulous snapshot of the village celebrating in their Sunday finery, together with scores of children sitting down to tea. The whole event took place on the Fete Field (now Bargates) before The Rec had been donated as the village green.
As ever, the men and the ladies appear to have gathered in separate groups to discuss matters of interest to them. We might speculate that the subjects included Women's Suffrage at a time when hundreds of women refused to be included in the census of that year in protest against the denial of the franchise for women. Other topics of interest might have been the Festival of Empire at the Crystal Palace, London, riots and deaths in Liverpool docks, the National Insurance Bill and continuing political disputes between the Houses of Commons and Lords. With so much to discuss, it was fortunate that 1911 was the hottest year on record at that time.
Only a few years later there was a further coronation celebrating the new reign of King George V (above and below courtesy Ainsley and Shirley Goulstone). They are a fabulous snapshot of the village celebrating in their Sunday finery, together with scores of children sitting down to tea. The whole event took place on the Fete Field (now Bargates) before The Rec had been donated as the village green.
As ever, the men and the ladies appear to have gathered in separate groups to discuss matters of interest to them. We might speculate that the subjects included Women's Suffrage at a time when hundreds of women refused to be included in the census of that year in protest against the denial of the franchise for women. Other topics of interest might have been the Festival of Empire at the Crystal Palace, London, riots and deaths in Liverpool docks, the National Insurance Bill and continuing political disputes between the Houses of Commons and Lords. With so much to discuss, it was fortunate that 1911 was the hottest year on record at that time.
References
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 12 August 1899
[2] See Bingham Hall
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 19 August 1899
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 19 August 1899
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 12 August 1899
[2] See Bingham Hall
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 19 August 1899
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 19 August 1899
Postscript
There are more photos of the 1897 festivities at Celebrations. These may well have been taken by Augustus but were not included in the family photo album passed on to Simon's family.
There are more photos of the 1897 festivities at Celebrations. These may well have been taken by Augustus but were not included in the family photo album passed on to Simon's family.