160 YEARS SINCE QUEEN VICTORIA VISITED COVENTRY ON 14 JUNE 1858 ON ROUTE TO STONELEIGH
On Monday afternoon, the Queen and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, attended by a distinguished suite, left Buckingham Palace for Stoneleigh Abbey in this county, the seat of Lord Leigh.
The Royal party quitted the palace at twenty minutes before three o’clock in three of the Queen’s’ carriages and was escorted by a detachment of Light Dragoons to the Euston square terminus of the London
and Western Railway. Mr. Secretary Walpole met the Queen at the railway station, and attended her majesty on her journey.
At the station two waiting rooms had been converted into one for the purpose of a reception room, or rather as a means of exit from the station….and punctually at half-past five o’clock, the signal was given of the approach of the train, and in a few seconds it appeared.
Her Majesty and the Prince both rose in the saloon and bowed gracefully as the train stopped. A momentary delay was caused by the train proceeding several yards further than intended, and it was put back; but immediately the train stood still the door of the royal carriage was opened, and Lord Leigh introduced to the Queen the Mayor, who then presented the address of the Corporation of the City to her Majesty.
Information extracted from Lowe’s News cuttings of the event from contemporary newspapers together with images from the Pictures of Coventry collection, both available for viewing in the Coventry Archives.
