Victorian Photo Album Nᵒ.1: Queen Victoria's Visit (Paradise Street)

Held at Birmingham Archive.

This wonderful image, one of the oldest photographs depicting Birmingham, was taken from Paradise Street on 15th June 1858: the day that Queen Victoria first visited Birmingham. It depicts some of the Georgian remnants of the street, a little row of brick residential houses on the left. Next to them is the brand new (begun in 1855 and completed in 1860) Birmingham and Midland Institute rising a little higher and topped with a Union Jack. It had been designed by Edward Middleton Barry. Local newspapers reported that the Institute was 'prettily ornamented with wreaths and festoons of artificial flowers-displayed with much taste, and arranged so as not to interfere with the beautiful architecture of the building itself'.**

Next along the street is the Town Hall, a late Recency (begun in 1833) building crowned with the flag of St. George and, possibly, adorned in laurels. It is the only building in the photograph which survives today. Facing the viewer is Christ Church, a rather unloved Regency addition to the top end of New Street, and where a platform had been built for school children. Seats could be purchased and a choir of children sang as the Queen alighted from her carriage outside the Town Hall. As she stepped down there was a canopy made from purple velvet and then herself and Prince Albert were escorted into the Town Hall for a ceremony, and then proceeded to Aston Hall where there were more festivities.*

The visit of Victoria was a massive event for Birmingham.

People flocked from all around just to try and catch a glimpse of the Queen. Windows and rooms that were on Her Majesties route were rented out and you can see people in the windows of Paradise Street, and a small boy on a man’s shoulders. The papers for weeks previously had been filled with chatter about the visit, with adverts for flags, banners, flowers and plants for sale, special foods and lamps (the festivities would go on late into the night). The platforms erected for people to stand and view were later used for dancing. 

I wonder if the photographer captured the moment of the Queen’s arrival. They would have realised that she was nearing by the sound of the crowds and been able to ready themselves in anticipation. The fact that some people are walking away from the Town Hall would suggest not, though. 


NOTES
*From Illustrated London News, 19 June 1858, a transcript of which can be found at http://birminghamuk.net/history/
**From Birmingham Daily Post, 16 June 1858, available at Birmingham Archive.
Image courtesy of Birmingham Library and Archive Services.