The Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Celebration Medal 1897 Back to the Main Historical Society page
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The Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Celebration Medal 1897


from The Barwicker No. 77





The above picture is of a medal specially made for Arthur Chippindale in 1897 for distribution to each of the boys in Scholes village in celebration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. (There is also a brooch with a V in the centre for the girls but no picture exists of this.)

Arthur Chippindale was a member of the family which established the brickyard in Scholes in 1877 and which supplied bricks for the houses in Scholes and surrounding villages.

I found the information regarding the medals whilst I was researching the history of Ashfield House (see 'The Barwicker' No. 61). I saw the picture of the old brickyard in the Skyrack feature 'Scenes from the County' (13 April 1984). The picture had been sent to the newspaper late Mr A Kenneth Chippindale who resided in Canada but had an interest in this area. When I saw the picture I noticed that Ashfield was shown in the background of the photograph and wrote to Mr Chippindale to gather more information. He very kindly forwarded more including information concerning the above medal.

During research into the book on Scholes village by the Women's Institute (Scholes is our Village, 1984) I passed on the information regarding the medal. I also approached a lady whose family had lived in the village for generations - Mrs Annie Cullen neé Wetherall - who remembered seeing a medal but said that it would probably be lost at this time. However, my interest in the medal had encouraged her to search further and we were fortunate in that she eventually located the actual medal in her button box! The enlarged reproduction below is of that medal. The actual size is only that of a new penny.

The face side shows Queen Victoria in the centre surrounded by (starting at the top and going clockwise) the Emperor Frederick and Empress of Germany, Alfred Duke of Edinburgh with the Duchess, Prince Henry of Battenburg with Princess Beatrice, and Prince Louis of Hess with Princess Alice.

The reverse face shows the Prince and Princess of Wales in the centre surrounded by (starting at the top and going clockwise) the Duke and Duchess of York, the Marquis of Lome with Princess Louise, the Duke and Duchess of Albany, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, and Prince Christian with Princess Helena.

It would be interesting to know how many of these medals have survived - or if anyone has details of the brooch given to the girls.

MARY EATON


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