3-021-048 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Arrival of the Prince and Princess of Wales at Melford Hall, Suffolk, the seat of Lord Alfred Paget, 1865. 'This mansion is a fine example of the Elizabethan style of architecture, with a quadrangle, and two octagonal towers surmounted with turrets in front, and four towers of similar design on the western front of the main building. It faces the spacious park...and the grounds on the estate are tolerably well stocked with game...The Prince and Princess [future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra]...were met by Lord Alfred Paget...and conducted, in a carriage and four, to Melford Hall; the road being thronged with people...The yeomanry cavalry and the volunteers, under the command of Sir W. Parker, formed an escort from the park gates; a procession being there formed by the Oddfellows' Lodges, with several bands of music. Their Royal Highnesses thus drove up to the hall with considerable festive pomp...On the following day...the Prince, accompanied by the visitors staying at the hall, went in the afternoon to shoot in Spelthorne Wood. About 360 head of game were shot, including 181 pheasants. His Royal Highness killed with his own gun sixty pheasants, thirty hares, and forty rabbits'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865.