Visit Fleetwood had a phone call in February 2018 from Mike Ellis who lives in Broadstairs, Kent. Mike collects postcards, his speciality being the Coronation of King George V in 1911. When he’s collected the postcard he then researches the history behind it.
We’re particularly looking for information about a bonfire held in Fleetwood as part of the celebrations for the Coronation.
A Chain of Bonfires
Apparently, on the evening of the Coronation of King George V on on 22 June 1911, towns all over the UK held celebration bonfires. They were all lit at the same time, at 10pm.
Most of them were on high points of their particular town, like a chain of beacons.
A bonfire was also lit in Fleetwood, ours was on the beach.
What do you know?
This is where you come in. Mike is wanting to know more about the bonfire (and now so do we!).
– Do you know anything about who built it?
– What was it made from?
– Who lit it? (usually a local dignitary)
– How many people attended?
– Was there an accompanying celebration party?
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A Rev. Canon Rawnsley wrote a book ‘The Coronation Bonfires 22nd June 1911’ but it’s not listed in there.
Reports in the newspapers and the Programme from the time only say that the bonfire was lit at 10 pm
Here at Visit Fleetwood we’ve got a keen interest in the local history of the area and follow most of the ‘Past’ Facebook groups. However, we can’t say that we’ve ever heard this mentioned before. We’re sure that someone will know though!
Shoreline Bonfires
Tom Welsh got in touch in July 2022 with some information. He’s published “Hilltop Bonfires: marking royal events” on Amazon Kindle, which is about jubilee and coronation bonfires.
Tom tells us: “Fleetwood bonfires were on the shore near the Mount. In 1902 for the coronation of Edward VII, 1911 for the coronation of George V. Again for the silver jubilee of George V in 1935, and the Coronation of George VI in 1937. They didn’t get much notice as the usual site elsewhere in Britain was an eminence or hilltop.”
Celebrations for the Coronation of King George V in 1911 in Fleetwood
Mike Ellis also provided this photograph, which was taken the morning of Thursday 22 June 1911.
It shows ‘Members and Officers of the Council and Gentlemen of the town’ on the platform in North Euston Hotel Park.
Extract / precis from The Fleetwood Chronicle & Fylde Advertiser, 20 June 1911 (copy provided by Fleetwood Library):-
10am – Members and Officers of the Council, Gentlemen of the town and schoolchildren will assemble in front of the Town Hall, Queens Terrace and, accompanied by the bands and the Territorial Forces, will join in a united procession. The route will be via Adelaide, East, West, Ash and Milton Street, Abbott’s Walk and the Esplanade to the North Euston Hotel Park, where the National Anthem will be sung, accompanied by the massed bands, and a “feu de joie” will be fired.
The obelisk in the background is that dedicated to the memory of James Abram and George Greenall, who lost their lives while trying to save others in the great storm of November 1890.
Who was there?
While we’re looking for evidence, does anyone know who the people are in the picture? Does anyone know anything about this event?
Get in touch
If you know anything please let us know.
Email jane@theRabbitPatch.co.uk and we’ll pass your information on to Mike (and share it here of course!)
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