With the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla taking place shortly, we’re looking back at the Coronation of Charles’s grandparents George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937.
In the Brecknock Museum collection at y Gaer, we have many photos, objects, and ephemera illustrating how the Coronation was celebrated locally.
“Photos and postcards show many celebrations in Brecon on Coronation Day, Wednesday 12th May 1937,” explained Collections Assistant Jacquie Morgan.
“Including outside the Queen’s Head Hotel in Market Street and outside the Markets Tavern. As well as giving a feel of the events that were organised, they also show us details such as the home-made paper crowns many people wore, and features of the town at the time including the livestock market.”
A photo of the Struet from the top of Castle Street shows huge flags hung above the road to celebrate the Coronation.
“It also shows the railway bridge across the Struet – another reminder of changes in the Brecon streetscape in the 20th century,” added Jacquie.
One postcard shows a children’s tea party at Brecon’s Market Hall.
“The Market Hall is decorated with flags, and there are hundreds of children sitting at long tables having tea, with many adults including nurses serving them,” said Jacquie.
“Some of the children are very young, and we’re hoping that there might be a few readers who can recognise family members or even themselves in the photo, or who remember the occasion. First-hand memories of these events would add an extra layer of understanding to this aspect of our local history.”
Objects in the Brecknock Museum collection include the chair used by Lord Glanusk at the 1937 Coronation service at Westminster Abbey. It is upholstered in blue velvet with gold braid and the crest of George VI, and provides another link with a prominent local man who has featured in many of our articles about Brecon life in the first half of the 20th century.
We’re also lucky to have a range of items that local people have kindly donated to the Brecknock Museum collection, including a paper bag printed with a red and blue design to mark Coronation Day, a cigarette card album issued by John Payer & Sons to commemorate the Coronation, and a colourful double-week commemorative issue of the popular magazine The Illustrated London News published on 8th May 1937.
“With street parties and other celebrations planned for the 2023 Coronation, it will be interesting to see comparisons with events in 1937, and we hope to be able to keep records of local events marking the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla just as we have done for the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.” said Jacquie.
If any readers recognise themselves or family members in the photographs, or have further information about the 1937 Coronation events locally, we’ll be delighted to hear from you. Contact us on 01874 624121 or at [email protected] (FAO Jacquie Morgan) if you can help us add to this story.