Preparations for the 1937 Royal Visit to Northern Ireland

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Details

Location

Belfast, Belfast City Centre, Belfast City Hall

Year

1937

Date

Length

47sec

Audio

silent

Format

8mm

black and white

Source

Ingrid Skinner

Courtesy

Ingrid Skinner, Reverend Harold Allen

Rights Holder

Ingrid Skinner

It is illegal to download, copy, print or otherwise utilise in any other form this material, without written consent from the copyright holder.

Description

This short film from the collection of Reverend Harold Allen shows preparations for the 1937 Royal Visit. George VI had just been coronated and was visiting Northern Ireland with Queen Elizabeth to celebrate. They arrived in Belfast at Thompson's Wharf. The Royal procession then travelled from Donegall Quay to Belfast City Hall where the King addressed a lively crowd. Towards the end of the film, there are glimpses of Wellington Place, the City Hall and Chichester Street decked out for the Royals. The festive atmosphere takes on a bittersweet note with the retrospective knowledge that World War Two was looming over Europe. Four years later, Belfast City Centre would be hit in the first of three Blitzes mounted by the Luftwaffe resulting in a high number of casualties and extensive damage. 

Credits

From the collection of Reverend Harold Allen

Film donated by Ingrid Skinner 

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