The Times, Monday October 2, 1905
PRINCESS LOUISE IN LANCASHIRE
Blackburn, on Sarturday, gave a heary welcome to the Princess Louise (Duchess of Argyll), who, with the Duke of Argyll, visited the town to unveil a marble statue of Queen Victoria, which has been erected by public subscription on the boulevard at a cost of £3000. The streets and public buildings had been decorated for the occasion, and large crowds assembled from all parts of Lancashire. At the Billinge end of Blackburn was a guard of honour, composed of the 1st V.B. East Lancashire Regiment, and at the town-hall a guard of honour consisting of the Blackburn batteries of the 3rd Lancashire Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers was mounted. A detachment of the Church Lads Brigade was stationed in Exchange-road. The Princess and the Duke of Argyll, who had been the guests of Sir William and Lady Coddington, were met at the borough boundary by the mayor and corporation, Sir W.H.Hornby, M.P., and Mr. J.Rutherford, M.P. A troop of the Duke of Lancaster's own Yeomanry escorted the Royal carriage. The reception all along the route was most enthusiastic.
At the town-hall the mayor presented an illuminated address to the Princess; and the Duke of Argyll, in responding, said that he had never seen any Lancashire town-and he had seen many and had represented one-look better than Blackburn did that day. It was like a garden in full summer bloom, and he trusted that this was a sign of its ever-increasing prosperity. They were particularly impressed with their reception, and also with the smart appearance of the citizen soldiers of the town. Miss Kay, daughter of the mayor, presented a bouquet of orchids and lilies of the valley to the Princess. The procession then proceeded to the Boulevard, and, on the invitiation of the mayor, Princess Louise pulled the cord and the cloth covering the statue fell, revealing the monument. There was an outburst of cheering.
Mr.J.Rutherford, M.P., on behalf of the subscribers, presented the statue to the mayor, who received it on behalf of the town. The Princess and the Duke of Argyll were thanked by Bishop Thornton and Councillor Tattersall, and after a round of cheering the Duke responded. He congratulated the sculptor on his work, and said that he did not expect to see colonial preference in a proactical form so soon at Blackburn. It was, however, a good thing that they had the "open door" for Australian craftsmen and art, and that they had, as the author of this statue, a member of a new nation which had practically arisen from the reign of her late Majesty. At the conclusion of the ceremony the sculptor, Mr. Mackennal, who is by birth an Australian, was presented to her Royal Highness by the mayor.
After the Royal visitors had lunched with the mayor at the town-hall, Princess Louise and the Duke of Argyll left by special train for Burnley, which was brilliantly decorated. Here Princess Louise opened two Cottage Homes belonging to East Lancashire Regiment, the site for which was presented to the regiment by Sir John Thursby, high sheriff. The homes are occupied by old soldiers of the regiment. They contain a tablet with an inscription stating that they are dedicated to the memory of the officers and men of the East Lancashire Regiment who fell during the South African war. The scheme of these homes has met with general support, mainly owing to their being for the benefit of deserving men of the territorial regiment, not only now, but in perpetuity. The fact of the homes being regimental makes them specially popular with soldiers, the selection of the inmate by their regiment being regarded as a recognition of good service with the colours, and not as a charity. Forty-seven of these regimentla houses are now completed and occupied, and other are approaching completion. In many instances large landowners have generously come forward and presented sites. These include the Dukes of Devonshire and Bedford, the latter of whom has further erected at his own expense two homes for the Bedfordshire Regiment. Most territorial regiments are suitably building their homes in or near their county towns, ths further strenghtening the territorial sentiment which proved of such service in the late war. At the town-hall an address of cordial welcome was presented to her Royal Highness by the mayor, after which she proceeded to the homes, where an address giving an historical review of the scheme was read to her Royal Highness by Colonel Robinson. The Princess subsequently unveiled the memorial tablet bearing a suitable inscription, afterwards inspecting the buildings and walking through the wards of the adjoining Victoria Hospital, opened 19 years ago by the late Duke of Clarence.
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Photo%20Archive/Nearby/Royal%20Visit1.htm
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Photo%20Archive/Nearby/Royal%20Visit2.htm
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