Today we look at how the success of a Nottingham art school, founded on the lace and textile trade, led to one of Nottingham's grandest royal parades and the resurrection of Nottingham Castle from a burnt out hulk to today's fabulous Art Gallery and Museum...
In 1878 the pioneering Nottingham Castle Art Gallery and Museum became the first municipal art gallery to open outside of London. It was directly inspired by the success of the Nottingham School of Art, established in 1843 after years of lobbying by the town's textile manufacturers. They wanted it to develop new lace designs "to secure the interests of the lace trade and of the town". The "new" art school building on Waverley Street (shown above) was built in 1863 and the art school's success continues to the present day with the opening of the high-tech Design & Digital Arts (D&DA) building on Shakespeare Street¹. But back in 1872 the art school's success and prodigious output had inspired Nottingham's mayor to champion a new idea and a new use for the long-derelict castle...
"THE Midland Counties Art Museum at Nottingham Castle, which was last week opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales, owed its origin in a great measure to the generosity and public spirit of the late Mr. William Geo. Ward², Mayor of Nottingham who died only a few weeks ago from injuries he sustained in consequence of a fall from his horse. So long ago as 1872 the success achieved by the students of the Nottingham School of Art induced the authorities of the Science and Art Department at South Kensington to suggest to the Town Council the establishment of an Exhibition of pictures and other artwork. The idea was at once adopted, a Committee was formed, an annual grant of money voted, and an Art Exhibition was soon opened in the Exchange Rooms. This became so popular, that the late Mayor and Town Council resolved on establishing a permanent Museum of Art, and the Castle was at once suggested as an appropriate site for it. Mr. Gladstone and Lord de Tabley, as trustees of the Duke of Newcastle, to whom the Castle belongs, were applied to for a lease, and they granted one for five hundred years; the Town Council undertaking to spend £20,000, upon the "restoration" or rather alteration of the building, and to "use and maintain it as a public Museum and Art Gallery." Great interest has been taken in the work during its progress by Mr. Gladstone, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Duke of St. Alban's, the High Sheriff of the town and county and the town of Nottingham, Lord Belper (Lord Lieutenant of the county), Lord Manvers, Lord Carnarvon, Mr. Samuel Morley, Mr. Mundella, and many other gentlemen connected with the county."
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| 1878 - Peveril Drive looks very boulevard-like and beautifully tree-lined with the land dropping away below unlike today. Castle Boulevard³ was built below it in 1884 and the land probably levelled out compared to this scene. |
"The Castle stands on an eminence close to the town, and is surrounded by extensive grounds which have been very tastefully laid out. The building which has just been restored is of course not the old Norman structure of history. That was dismantled during the Civil War, and was subsequently bought by William Cavendish, first Duke of Newcastle, who planned and commenced the present Castle, which, it will be recollected, was sacked and burnt by a mob during the riots which preceded the Reform Bill of 1832; the Duke of Newcastle of that day having made himself unpopular by saying that he "would do what he liked with his own." For many years the Castle Rock remained a scene of desolation, save at Easter and Whitsuntide, when the magnificent site was utilised for galas."
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| "And what a mass of humanity! Never before, probably, in the history of good old Nottingham, has the Great Market-place witnessed such a multitude of human souls." |
Great Royal Procession
"On Wednesday 3rd July 1878, the Prince and Princess of Wales attended the opening of the Midland Counties Art Museum, which has been established at Nottingham Castle.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, who had arrived at Bestwood as the guests of the Duke of St. Albans on the previous day, drove thence in an open carriage, and were met at the entrance of the town by the Mayor and Corporation and a number of other notabilities who were interested in the ceremony, and who came in procession from the Nottingham School of Art. The whole town of course made holiday and turned out to enjoy the show. The streets through which the procession passed were draped with many-coloured flags, and lined on either side with Venetian masts. One street was transformed into a continuous triumphal arch by being covered in with a species of curved basketwork; and in many places a novel and dazzling effect was produced by the lavish use of beautiful lace hangings.
In the marketplace the scene was most imposing. The market-place is one of the most spacious in the kingdom, covering an area of nearly six acres, and its appearance is rendered quaint and picturesque by the colonnade which, formed by the projecting fronts of the upper storeys of the houses, surrounds it. The houses on all sides were hung with scarlet cloth and festoons of flowers, trophies of flags being fixed between the upper windows. The square was surrounded by Venetian masts, and from top to top of these masts were suspended strings of countless small banners. Every window, and even the tops of the houses, were thronged with spectators, and in the marketplace itself there was an immense crowd. It was here that the procession. halted while the Sunday school children sang a verse of "God Bless the Prince of Wales," The line of route was kept by the South Regiment from Sheffield, and squadrons both of Lancers and the North Notts Yeomanry, whilst on the "Castle Green" were posted the "Robin Hoods," a famous rifle corps, which numbers nearly 1,000 strong".
A more detailed description of the procession can be found further below from the Nottingham Date Book.
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| Sweeping into Nottingham Castle heading for Castle Green |
Inspiration for other cities
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| William Felkin (not Les Dawson) |
When the Glasgow School of Art opened two years after Nottingham in 1845 it too was called the "Glasgow Government School of Design".
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| TW Rolleston |
"Except in some departments of women's work, such as lace and embroidery. . we have practically no such thing in Ireland on the application of original artistic facility to industry. I am, of course, aware that there are classes for wood carving and metalwork, where pupils are able to make excellent copies of the ready made designs that one can buy by the hundred in the tool shops. There is no general diffusion of good designing or even of decent technical ability but art schools and classes and similar government institutions can do a great deal... now that we have cut loose from the paralysing influence of South Kensington".
Rolleston believed the art school was not only to teach drawing, but to train... "the mind and taste. The art school can provide surroundings to offset the ugliness of the modern world. An art school like every other agency of civilization, must endeavour as one of the prime features of its system, to familiarise its student with the past art life of their own country The great need of modern Ireland is to be reunited with its past". The essential condition of progress was a link between art and industry. "Art must be brought into the workshop, or the worker into the school of art".
This is an interesting foretaste of Bauhaus theory, a critique of craftsmanship and a plea for Irish art education to strike out on its own.
How did the Castle's re-opening celebrations get paid for?
The Nottingham Date Book for 1878 answers that interesting question, follows with its own detailed description of the day's events and ends with a notable technological breakthrough for the city of Nottingham and the Castle...
May 20 1878 - At a meeting of the Town Council it was agreed to pay the expenses of the celebration of the opening of the Castle Museum out of the profits from the gas undertaking during the current year. [Presumably the Corporation undertook to supply gas as a commercial exercise]
July 3 1878 - The Midland Counties Art Museum at Nottingham Castle was opened by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who was accompanied by the Princess, and the day's proceedings were characterised by all the éclat consequent on the visit of royalty. On the evening of the 2nd, the Prince and Princess arrived at Daybrook station for Bestwood Park, the seat of His Grace the Duke of St. Albans, of whom their Royal Highnesses were the guests.
On the morning of the 3rd it rained! Not mere drizzle, but great big drops that seemed calculated to play sad havoc with the fragile festoons. If ever a blessing did come in a disguise, it was the rain on that Wednesday morning. It laid the dust, it refreshed the evergreens, it made the atmosphere delightfully cool and pleasant. Presently, the sun shone forth in all the brilliancy of "Queen's weather;" hopes half shattered were revived; people crowded into the town by thousands and tens of thousands, and took up their position along the line of route, something like three miles in extent in the first instance.
At half-past ten, the members of the Corporation, borough officials, and others, assembled at the School of Art, Waverley-street, from whence they proceeded, at noon, via Forest-road on to Mansfield-road, there to await in their long line of carriages the arrival of the Royal party from Bestwood. At twelve o'clock, the distant cheers told unmistakeably that the Prince and Princess were approaching. A flourish of trumpets greeted them on nearing the "arch of welcome," and the famous band of the Robin Hood Rifles struck up the first six bars of "God save the Queen." The procession was of considerable length, and included the Mayor, the Lord Lieutenant of the county, the Sheriff of the town, the High Sheriff of the county, the Lord Bishop of Lincoln, and numerous other distinguished personages, the members of the Castle Museum Committee and of the Corporation, borough officials, representatives of Friendly Societies, and others, all of whom were, of course, in carriages. The Royal carriage was escorted by a detachment of the 17th Lancers, and by squadrons of the South Notts. Yeomanry and the Sherwood Rangers; and the Prince and Princess of Wales were attended by the Duke of St. Albans and Sir Dighton Probyn.
At the top of Mansfield-road a magnificent and substantial triumphal arch had been erected, on either side of which were displayed the words, "Welcome to Nottingham," where the Royal party were received with a salute by a guard of honour of the Robin Hood Rifles. On Mansfield-road crimson Venetian masts had been erected, to contrast with the green foliage, each pole being surmounted by a flag or bannerette, with mid-way a shield supporting a number of smaller flags, and the decorations on the houses were extremely beautiful, reflecting great credit upon the taste of the inhabitants. Lace being the chief staple trade of the town, there was no end to the display of the textile fabric, which, especially when hung over scarlet and crimson drapery, demonstrated in an effective fashion its adaptability for decorative purposes. A number of spacious platforms had been erected on Mansfield-road, which were embellished with lace, drapery, and an unlimited amount of bunting. The sight of sights, however, was to be witnessed during the time of the procession crossing the Market-place. The bewildering scene here presented can be more readily imagined than described.
The decorations on the Exchange façade were simply perfect, whilst suspended from the Venetian masts which surrounded the square. were countless small flags similar to those previously referred to. The houses were uniformly draped with crimson cloth and lace, with an interlacing design of blue artificial flowers. And what a mass of humanity! Never before, probably, in the history of good old Nottingham, has the Great Market-place witnessed such a multitude of human souls. Here, too, 17,000 school-children over the age of nine years, were assembled within barriers erected for the purpose. As soon as the Royal carriage appeared in sight, the youthful army, under the able conductorship of Mr. F. M. Ward, united in singing the National Anthem. On the arrival of the Prince and Princess alongside the barriers, the carriage stopped, whilst the children sang "God bless the Prince of Wales." The Princess was visibly affected, and it was a graceful act that of receiving a bouquet of flowers from the hands of one of the fair little singers. In chapel-bar the festoons again were very effective, and Derby-road was gay with Venetian masts, bunting, lace, drapery, and evergreens. At the top of Derby-road was another triumphal arch, this one having been raised under the auspices of the Nottingham Rowing Club, the leading members of which, loftily seated in an eight-oared outrigger, "tossed oars" on the approach of the Royal carriage, which here again stopped for a few moments. More music, more tremendous cheering, and on again went the procession at a quickened pace. Beyond what had been done by private residents, no decorations were attempted in the Park, the natural loveliness of which rendered such inadvisable. In Newcastle-circus, there was a large gathering of school children of too tender an age to take part in the Market-place demonstration. Proceeding along Park drive, the gates were reached, where another strong guard of honour of the Robin Hood Rifles was posted, who saluted whilst the band of the regiment again played a portion of the "National Anthem."
There was a brilliant assemblage on the Castle Green, round three sides of which the remainder of the Robin Hood Rifles were ranged, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Seely. The Prince eventually unlocked the door at the principal entrance to the Museum with a key of exquisite workmanship, manufactured for the occasion, after which their Royal Highnesses were con-ducted to the reception rooms prepared for them. A number of presentations were made, including the Mayor, the Deputy-Mayor, the Sheriff, the Vice-Chairman of the Castle Museum Committee, and several Aldermen and Councillors. Their Royal Highnesses then commenced a tour of the interior of the Museum, Mr. Hine, the architect, and Mr. Wallis, the curator, acting as guides.
The opening ceremony took place under a pavilion erected on the green. The Town Clerk, Mr. S. G. Johnson, having read the address, the Prince read his reply, in which he expressed the gratification it afforded him and the Princess "to be able to visit so important and prosperous a town, and to attend the opening of the Midland Counties Museum." "Nottingham has taken the lead," continued His Royal Highness, "in carrying out one of the principal objects entertained by the Prince Consort, my lamented father, when he established a National Art Museum at South Kensington, au example which, I trust, will speedily be followed by other municipal bodies throughout the United Kingdom." The Bishop of Lincoln having offered up prayer, the Prince stepped forward, and in distinct tones declared the Museum to be open. A round of hearty applause, with much waving of hats and handkerchiefs, greeted this announcement, and the band of the Royal Artillery played "Rule Britannia."
In the afternoon, a large and influential assembly partook of the hospitality provided at the Mayor's luncheon at the Exchange -which was of a private character. Dense crowds thronged the streets during the remainder of the day, the band of the Cold-stream Guards being stationed in the Market-place, and other bands in various parts of the town. At night the town was brilliantly illuminated, and there was a display of fireworks on the Forest, by Mr. Brock, of the Crystal Palace, on a grand scale, fiery portraits being given of the Prince of Wales and the late Mayor, Alderman W. G. Ward. In the Market-place and from the Castle the electric light converted midnight into noontide, as it were, and the great day terminated in a manner highly gratifying to all those concerned in the management of affairs, and to the thousands of sightseers at large.
First telephonic communication in Nottingham established between the Castle Museum and the Police Station, St. John's-street, on the 23rd of June previous.
Notes and Sources
The Graphic 13th July 1878
https://archive.org/details/nationalgraphic1878unse/page/34/mode/1up?view=theater&q=nottingham
"6th July 1878 - On Wednesday, the Prince and Princess of Wales attended the opening of the Midland Counties An Museum, which has been established at Nottingham Castle. Their Royal Highnesses, who were the guests of the Duke of St. Alban s at Best wood, drove thence to the city, where they were received by the Corporation and the Lord Lieutenant of the county, and were conducted in procession through the streets which were gaily decorated, and lined with volunteers, yeomanry, and regular soldiers. About 17.000 [ed - really? Population of Nottm was 159,000] Sunday School children, who were assembled at one point on the route, sang God Bless the Prince of Wales ” as the cortlge went by.
On Tuesday the Prince and Princess went to Bestwood Hall, Nottingham, the seat of the Duke of St. Alban's, and on Wednesday opened the Nottingham Castle Museum. As we shall probably publish some illustrations of the proceedings, we reserve any detailed account. On Thursday the Prince and Princess left Nottingham, for Peterborough, on a visit to the Marquis of Huntly and Earl Fitzwilliam, and were present at the Hound Show and Agricultural Exhibition.
THE NOTTINGHAM MUSEUM THE Midland Coun- ties Art Museum at Nottingham Castle, which was last week opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales, owed its origin in a great measure to the generosity and public spirit of the late Mr. William Geo. Ward, Mayor of Nottingham who died only a few weeks ago from in juries he sustained in consequence of a fall from his horse.
So long ago as 1872 the success achieved by the students of the Nottingham School of Art induced the authorities of the Science and Art De- partment at South Kensington to suggest to the Town Council the establishment of an Exhibition of pic- tures and other art- work. The idea was at once adopted, a Committee was formed, an annual grant of money voted, and an Art Exhibition was soon opened in the Exchange Rooms. This became so popular, that the late Mayor and Town Council resolved on establishing a permanent Museum of Art, and the Castle was at once suggested as an appropriate site for it. Mr. Gladstone and Lord de Tabley, as trustees of the Duke of Newcastle, to whom the Castle belongs, were applied to for a lease, and they granted one for five hundred years; the Town Council undertaking to spend 20,000/, upon the "restoration" or rather alteration of the building, and to "use and maintain it as a public Museum and Art Gallery." Great interest has been taken in the work during its progress by Mr. Gladstone, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Duke of St. Alban's, the High Sheriff of the town and county and the town of Nottingham, Lord Belper (Lord Lieutenant of the county), Lord Manvers, Lord Carnarvon, Mr. Samuel Morley, Mr. Mundella, and many other gentlemen connected with the county.
The Castle stands on an eminence close to the town, and is surrounded by extensive grounds which have been very tastefully laid out. The building which has just been restored is of course not the old Norman structure of history. That was dismantled during the Civil War, and was subsequently bought by William Cavendish, first Duke of Newcastle, who planned and commenced the present Castle, which, it will be recollected, was sacked and burnt by a mob during the riots which preceded the Reform Bill of 1832; the Duke of Newcastle of that day having made himself unpopular by saying that he "would do what he liked with his own." For many years the Castle Rock remained a scene of desolation, save at Easter and Whitsuntide, when the magnificent site was utilised for galas, and latterly the building has been the head-quarters of the Robin Hood Rifles until the work of adapting it for its new purpose began. The Museum, as it now stands, consists of two storeys, the lower one containing seven spacious rooms, whilst in the upper, which is reached by two staircases of stone, there are six magnificent galleries. The outer walls are of enormous thickness, and the internal arrangements are of special fire-proof construction. The Director and Curator is Mr. G. H. Wallis, lately of South Kensington Museum; and it is the intention of the Council to carry out the system of administration and custody of objects of art lent to the Museum which has been so successful at South Kensington. The contents of the Exhibition are of course of a very varied character. Paintings, both old and modern, by British and foreign artists, in oil and water colours. Lace, old and new, hand-made (this is the staple industry of the town of Nottingham). Tapestry, needle- work, embroideries, pottery, porcelain and glass; armour and ironwork; specimens of carving in wood, ivory, and other materials; architectural and archeological relics, sculpture, bronzes, and jewellery.
One room is entirely devoted to pictures painted by Mr. Henry Dawson, who was himself present at the opening, and who, though not a native of Nottingham, was taken thither when quite an infant, and in his early life worked as a "twist hand" in one of the lace factories.
The weather on the opening day was brilliantly fine, although rain fell copiously enough during the early morning. The Prince and Princess of Wales, who had arrived at Bestwood, the Duke of St. Alban's seat, on the previous day, drove thence in an open carriage, and were met at the entrance of the town by the Mayor and Corpora tion and a number of other notabilities who were interested in the ceremony, and who came in procession from the Nottingham School of Art, The whole town of course made holiday, lay, and turned out to enjoy the show. The streets through which the procession passed were draped with many-coloured flags, and lined on either side with Venetian masts. One street was transformed into a continuous triumphal arch by being covered in with a species of curved basket - work; and in many places a novel and dazzling effect was produced by the lavish use of beautiful lace hang- ings. In the market- place the scene was most imposing. The market-place is one of the most spacious in the kingdom, cover- ing an area of nearly six acres, and its ap- pearance is rendered quaint and picturesque by the colonnade which, formed by the projecting fronts of the upper storeys of the houses, surrounds it. The houses on all sides were hung with scarlet cloth and fes- toons of flowers, trophies of flags being fixed between the upper windows. The square was surrounded by Venetian masts, and from top to top of these masts were suspended strings of countless small ban- ners. Every window, and even the tops of the houses, were thronged with spec- tators, and in the marketplace itself there was an immense crowd. It was here that the procession. halted while the Sun- dayschool children sang a verse of "God Bless the Prince of Wales," The line of route was kept by the Soth Regiment from Sheffield, and squad- rons both of Lancers and the North Notts Yeomanry, whilst on the "Castle Green" were posted the "Ro- bin Hoods," a famous rifle corps, whichnum- bers nearly 1,000 strong.
As the cortige passed through the grounds the band of the Royal Artillery performed a selection of music composed for the occasion by Mr. J. Farmer to words writ- ten by Mr. Bailey (the author of "Fes- tus" both of whom are natives of Not- tingham.
At the entrance to the Castle the Mayor, Mr. James Oldknow, received from the architect, Mr. T. C. Hine, a handsomely-chased key, which he immediately presented to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who, amid loud cheers, proceeded to open the door of the Museum. Then came the inspection of the building and its contents; after which the Royal party partook of luncheon and then returned to the lawn, where, under a pavilion, the Prince received an address from the Corporation, and made a suitable reply, in which he alluded in feeling terms to the sad accident which had caused the death of the late Mayor. The Prince having declared the Museum and grounds open, the Royal party returned to Bestwood, taking a different route through the town, and being enthusiastically cheered, as they had been on their way to the Castle.
The Mayor and members of the Corporation lunched together at the Exchange in celebration of the event; and in the evening many parts of the town were illuminated, and there was a display of fireworks in the Forest."
- The Metropolitan School of Art, 1900-1923 (Part 2) PROF. JOHN TURPIN (Read to the Old Dublin Society, 15th December, 1982)
1 - The new Design & Digital Arts (D&DA) building at Nottingham Trent University (NTU)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nottingham_Trent_University,_School_of_Art_and_Design
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| Nice to see the facade shown in the 1884 drawing still exists in 2024 |
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