The Visit of Queen Victoria to Derby (21st May 1891)
In 1890, after an outbreak of illness amongst nursing staff of the General Infirmary, the president Sir William Evans Bart took action and an inspection of the building took place.
It was subsequently condemned by Dr Seaton (the Local Government Board inspector), who conducted a 3 day survey, and the results met with "astonishment and dismay".
As a result of rats getting into the drainage systems through decaying brickwork, and previous repairs resulting in drainage and ventilation becoming "confused", the building was now full of "foul and contaminated gases" and a rebuild was urgently required.
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A building committee was formed and with the assistance of Messrs. Young and Hall, Architects from London, plans were in place for a new Infirmary.
Dignitaries from around the county, among them The Marquis of Hartington (representing the Duke of Devonshire), Lord Scarsdale the Bishop of Derby,
High Sheriff Mr E. Miller Mundy and Sir Douglas Galston, The Mayor of Derby met with Sir William Evans Bart and discussed the project. The announcement that Queen Victoria would be laying the foundation stone was made by Hartington (who many have credited with the arrangement of the Queen's participation in the event).
Donations and subscriptions were sought to aid in the building of the new infirmary, (this was pre-NHS of course) with large sums coming from notable individuals such as the Duke of Devonshire and Sir William Evans Bart also from the Shareholders of the Midland Railway Co., with numerous smaller amounts from the public.
The Mayor of Derby also committed to funding the cost of entertaining the Queen, the other royals and guests, and also any other expenses that occurred.
Planning for the day, including the route, the decorations and the entertainments could commence...
For an extensive account of the planning of the visit and a detailed breakdown of events, please click on the image of the Memorial Volume. This is a copy of the account written by W.Hobson of the Derby "Advertiser" 1891. Digitised by the Internet Archive in 2007. University of California Library, Los Angeles.
Photographs of the ceremony and preparations.
Ceremonial Objects
Due to the huge impact the event had on the city of Derby, a number of commemorative objects were produced some of which we have in our collection.
We have the ceremonial hammer (as depicted here) and spirit level, used by Queen Victoria on the day, as well as newspaper pages, a celebratory coin and a mug depicting the Queen.
Collection documents
Centenary Celebrations
In 1991, to celebrate 100 years since the event of the visit, a number of events took place at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary and around Derby, and a recreation of the visit took place including the "Queen" and her dignitaries.
We have the programme of these events in our collection as well as numerous photographs depicting the day, from the re-enactment of the horse drawn coach ride to the visit of the then Duke of Devonshire, culminating in the unveiling of the "100 years" commemorative stone.