Vintage Views with Aled Jones: The Lord Mayor of London’s visit to Brid

The Lord Mayor of London’s coach, July 6, 1906, on the occasion of his grand visit to the area. Here the coach is entering the New Spa and Gardens complex. Our photograph clearly shows the civic regalia – the mace is visible sticking out of the window.

The Lord Mayor of London, Sir W. Vaughan Morgan was invited to Bridlington to open the Parade Extension, Victoria Terraces and Grand Pavilion on the Royal Prince’s Parade.

Lord Mayor of London’s coach is shown entering the New Spa and Gardens complex in 1906.

placeholder image — Lord Mayor of London’s coach is shown entering the New Spa and Gardens complex in 1906.

People travelled from miles around to come to Bridlington and soak up the atmosphere of mayoral splendour.

Townsfolk erected thousands of flags on lampposts stretching from Old Town to the Quay in honour of the visit, alongside crimson venetian masts tied with garlands of flowers. A beautiful sight.

Vintage Views with Aled Jones: The Spa area as it looks today.

The route of the procession was over five miles long and was lined with multitudes to witness a 38-carriage procession, a mounted escort, and six bands!

Our original postcard image captures much of the pomp and ceremony of this truly lavish occasion. Don’t the horses look splendid in their polished bridles and tack?

The Mayor’s final stop was Flamborough village. Here the residents had spelt out

‘Welcome Lord Mayor' and 'Welcome to Flamborough' in chalk stones.

Visitors today will note a great difference in the appearance of the main entrance of the Spa complex. Admission at this time was 6d.

per day. It was not possible to just walk through as it is now. The domed entrance you can see had turnstiles and a uniformed gateman.

The houses in the background of this photograph are on Pembroke Terrace and we can see that the occupants of the buildings are watching the proceedings from the first floor windows.

Note at the far north end of the picture the decorative wrought-iron arch which formed the grand entrance from Old Hilderthorpe Road (now Southcliffe Road).

The sign boards on the wall advertise Field’s Oriental Café and Hammonds the drapers. The former was an intrinsic part of the Spa site. It was a popular rendezvous where people would meet to sip coffee and watch the world go by. Next to the café was a shop devoted just to chocolate.

This view of the Spa entrance in Edwardian times shows the Lifebuoy Station to the left with electric lighting, rare at the time, towards the middle.