Shrewsbury State Chariot outside the Swan Hotel, Stafford,

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Date:1953

Description:The Earl of Shrewsbury's State Chariot passing the Swan Hotel in Greengate Street, in preparation for the coronation celebrations of June 1953.

State Carriages, or Dress Chariots, were used for court and formal occasions by royalty and families of rank. This State Carriage was built in the nineteenth century for the 20th Earl of Shrewsbury, by Hooper and Co. Ltd. of London.

The coachman and two footmen wear state livery which includes white wigs, knee breeches and heavily braided jackets. The footmen are Major Anthony Crofton (the Earl's brother-in-law) and William Heath (manager of the Home Farm, Ingestre). The driver is Mr M.W. Loxley.

The Shrewsbury State Carriage was used for the state visit to Ireland in 1911, and at the coronations of King Edward VII and Queen Elizabeth II. On the latter occasion the chestnut horses, borrowed from Mitchell & Butler's Brewery in Birmingham, proved temperamental and after four and three-quarter miles finally refused to move. Lord Shrewsbury, whose presence as Premier Earl and Lord High Steward of Ireland was essential, covered the last two hundred yards to Westminster Abbey by car.

The State Carriage is part of the Staffordshire County Museum collection.


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1780s
Ancient High House, Stafford,
Ancient High House, Stafford,

The High House was built on Greengate Street by Richard Dorrington in 1595. The ...

1850s
Ancient High House, Stafford
Ancient High House, Stafford

The large timber framed building is the Ancient High House on Greengate Street, ...

1870s
Ancient High House, Stafford,
Ancient High House, Stafford,

View of the Ancient High House on Greengate Street, built by Richard Dorrington ...

1890s
William Marson and the Old Curiosity Shop, Stafford,
William Marson and the Old Curiosity Shop, Stafford,

William Albert Marson owned a high class family grocer's shop, established in the ...

1920s
Elizabeth I Pageant Costume, Stafford,
Elizabeth I Pageant Costume, Stafford,

1940s
Sydney and Elsie Hall, Swan Hotel,
Sydney and Elsie Hall, Swan Hotel,

Sydney and Elsie Hall with the Winnie Grundy Band at a function in the Ballroom ...

1960s
Student Demonstration, Stafford
Student Demonstration, Stafford

Staffordshire students' protest march on Greengate Street. At the front are John ...

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Donor ref:P97.004.0338 (18/761)

Source: Staffordshire Museum Service

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.