On Monday the 3rd August 1863, the Prince of Wales – the future Edward VII – arrived at Halifax station for a 2-day visit to the town.
The Prince was met by the Mayor, John Crossley, and other councillors, and a guard of honour was mounted by 300 of the Halifax Volunteer Riflemen.
The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway put on 358 trains to Halifax on the 2 days of the Prince's visit, and an estimated 100,000 people came to Halifax to join the celebrations. There were 870 police on duty, 200 of them from London and others from Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and elsewhere. It rained heavily throughout the visit.
During the visit, the Prince was taken to the Mayor's home, Manor Heath, the carpet works of John Crossley & Sons, the mills of James Akroyd & Sons, and the Brunswick Mills of John Whiteley & Sons.
On Tuesday, 4th August 1863, the Prince opened the new Town Hall.
Other celebrations included a balloon ascent from West Hill Park, a fireworks display in fields at Ward's End, People's Park, greeting by 16,000 people at Halifax Piece Hall, All Souls' Church, and the Victoria Hall.
The Town Clerk, Edmund Minson Wavell, read the loyal address to the Prince in the Victoria Hall and the Prince graciously responded.
Rev James Pridie and Rev William Robert Morrison presented an address on behalf of the Church and Dissenters.
The Princess of Wales was ill and was unable to attend
See John Baldwin, Mr Cockroft, Elevation of Halifax, The Prince of Wales visits Halifax, Halifax Town Hall Memorial and Princess Street
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Malcolm Bull 2017 /
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Revised 20:24 on 4th July 2017 / zz_6 / 6
