Anglo-Saxon Romsey
The Evidence in the Landscape
The Winchester King Alfred Millenary Celebrations of 1901
The statue of King Alfred that surveys Winchester from its stone plinth was unveiled during a week of celebrations held in Winchester in September 1901, marking the 1000 years since his death. At that time, the year of King Alfred's death was uncertain, considered to be a year or two either side of 901. Had he known the actual date of 899, perhaps the newly elected mayor, Alfred Bowker, would have been unsuccessful in his efforts to get the necessary support and financial backing for the event and the commemorative statue. The photos on this page are taken from Alfred Bower's book that was published the following year.
The King Alfred Millenary by Alfred Bowker published in 1902.
Frontispiece showing the statue in the centre of The Broadway.
The statue travelling by rail to Chesil Street station.
The two granite blocks for the base of the statue were moved from the Penryn quarry in Cornwall and taken to Winchester by train.
Sculptor Hamo Thornycroft with a plaster cast of the statue.
Lifting the statue onto its plinth.
Moving the granite blocks through Winchester.
The Procession
The Ceremony
Tableaux in the Guildhall
Scenes from the life of King Alfred were performed in the Guildhall as part of an evening's entertainment for local and visiting dignitaries. The show was repeated for the schoolchildren of Winchester the following week.
The tableaux:
Alfred being taught to read.
King Ethelred, while at his devotions, learns of the Danish advance, but in spite of the entreaties of his soldiers, refuses to march until mass is completed.
THE BATTLE OF ASHDOWN.—Alfred, impatient at Ethelred's delay, himself advances and leads the Saxon army to a glorious victory. After the battle the Saxon women render assistance to the wounded.
KING ALFRED AND THE CAKES.-Alfred bidden to watch the cakes by the neatherd's wife. The woman returning, discovers the burnt cakes and scolds the king. The arrival of Queen Ethelswitha with her Saxon attendants, to the surprise and consternation of the peasant.
THE DANISH CAMP. King Alfred visits the camp in the disguise of a minstrel.
THE BATTLE OF ETHANDUNE AND PEACE OF WEDMORE.-The capture of the "Raven" banner of the Danes. Guthrum and the Danes swear fealty to Alfred.
Children being instructed by the monks.
ALFRED THE GREAT.
Townspeople made up the cast:
KING ALFRED - Mr. R. Du Boulay.
KING ETHELRED - Mr. Lionel West.
GUTHRUM (the Danish Chief) - Mr. Dennis Clarke.
DANISH AND SAXON SOLDIERS, MONKS - Messrs. Cox, Coxen, Gerald Clark, Cecil Clark, Hilliard Davies, H. Drake, Douglas, Gilbert, Lermitt, Padday, West.
QUEEN OSBURGHA (King's Mother) - Miss Bosanquet.
QUEEN ETHELSWITHA - Miss West.
THE NEATHERD'S WIFE - Miss Morrah.
SAXON LADIES, NURSES, PEASANTS - Misses Bailey, H. Bailey, M. Bailey, Ella Bowker, Evelyn Bowker, Browne, Casson, N. Clark, M. Clark, Drake, Du Boulay, Nixon, Pearson, West.
CHILDREN — H. Arden, R. Bosanquet, D. Bosanquet, L. Cowan, D. Cowan, Margery West, A. West, M. West, G. Wooldridge, D. Wooldridge.
Alfred the Great.
Alfred being taught to read.
Children instructed by the monks.
The battle of Ethandune, Edington.
After the battle of Ashdown - Saxon women attending the wounded.
Further Reading
The King Alfred Millenary in Winchester, 1901 Hampshire Papers No. 17, 1999
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