Three Towns Pageant
16mm film Colour Silent 14.07.1951-26.07.1951 13:28
Summary: Semi-amateur film, with intertitles, of the 'Three Towns Pageant', a historical extravaganza put on by the councils of Richmond, Kingston and Twickenham in the grounds of Hampton Court as part of London's Festival of Britain celebrations in July 1951.
Title number: 438
LSA ID: LSA/585
Description: The film includes elements of many of the day's events, which brought to life episodes from the history of Hampton Court and other famous riverside towns with costumed actors playing out scenes from the past. Many of the famous characters arrive at by a boat on the Thames and disembark at Hampton Court led by Old Father Thames. There follows a journey through history from the middle ages to the Victorian era, with vignettes depicting the coronation of King Athelstan in 924 AD, 15th Century knights in armour jousting, the marriage of Mary Tudor and James IV of Scotland in 1502, a 16th century fair, a scold receiving punishment by plunging in the river, Henry VIII attending a pageant, the Duke of Alencon visiting Queen Elizabeth I in 1581, gunpowder made at Long Ditton being tested, Lord Francis Villiers in a civil war skirmish, scenes from the Beggar's Opera of 1728, the 18th Century Fete Champetre, John Lewis freeing Richmond Park, and men cycling through the grounds on penny farthings whilst in Victorian costume. It is a glorious sunny day and a large audience watch the proceedings while seated on racked seating.
Further information: The print in Kingston Local History Room and Archives includes intertitles; the print in Richmond Local Studies Collection does not. Kingston's print was digitised in the LSA digitisation project, 2011.
Keywords: Celebrations; Festivals
Locations: United Kingdom; England; London; Richmond upon Thames; Kingston; Twickenham; Thames (river); Hampton Court
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