King Edward VII’s visit to Stafford

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Date:November 1907

Description:This postcard view shows crowds of people outside the Shire Hall in the Market Square, Stafford for the visit of King Edward VII.

The Royal visit by King Edward VII was planned for the 18th to 23rd November 1907. The King arrived by train at Hixon station on Monday evening, 18 November 1907 where he was met by Lord Shrewsbury and taken to stay at Ingestre Hall. There were plans for a shooting party at Ingestre on Tuesday and Friday with a visit to Rangemore on Wednesday, again to shoot and the bag for the day was 1710 pheasants, 14 ducks and 1 rabbit. The King visited Alton Towers on Thursday. His plans to return to London were changed; instead he would motor to Lilleshall to have lunch with the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland before returning to London. Plans for the King to meet the great and good of Stafford on his way to the station were cancelled. However, the King called briefly at the Shire Hall in Market Square on his way to Lilleshall to be presented to the Mayor, Ebenezer William Taylor.

To commemorate his visit the King planted a Cedrus Libani (Cedar of Lebanon) tree at Ingestre Hall and also one at Alton Towers.