Queen Victoria in Atholl
Extract from MS249 The Atholl Experience
Queen Victoria's first visit to Scotland, 1842
From Scone Palace to Dunkeld: ". . the whole of the way
from Scone to Bridgend, and from the bridge, down Charlotte Street,
along the Crescent, up Atholl Street and for a great distance along
the Dunkeld Road, in fact as far as the eye could reach, was
literally crowded with happy thousands . . . The road from Perth to
Dunkeld, a distance of fifteen miles, exhibited a very animated and
picturesque appearance. Triumphal arches were reared at every
little distance; numerous houses along the road were decked with
flowers and evergreens; flags were hoisted on the tops of houses,
suspended from windows and planted on the tops of the adjoining
hills."
At Dunkeld: "The pontage gate of the Dunkeld Bridge . . . was
decorated as a Gothic arch, with crockets clothed with heather and
mounted with a crown . . . The royal tent stood on the lawn, to the
east of the Cathedral . . . sixty-four feet by twenty feet . . .
the boarded floor covered with crimson. The west side of the
tent was left entirely open, so as to afford a view of the romantic
scenery."
"At two o'clock, a princely déjeuner was served in the royal
tent . . . The dessert, elegant as it was abundant, consisted of
queen pine-apples, grapes, peaches &c., currants en chemise,
and ices in infinite variety. The pine-apples were served up
on a splendid gold assiette monté, surrounded with grapes,
and embellished with silken banners, with the national and the
Atholl arms. The service was of massive silver. Atholl
brose was served to the Queen out of Neil Gow's glass, which is
preserved by the Atholl family. It is of an ancient form, has
the initials N.G. cut on the side and holds nearly a quart."
Illustration and quote: A&C Black Queen
Victoria in Scotland, (Edinburgh, 1842), pp 46-48
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