King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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Boomtown - From Front Line to White Lund

The Royal Visit, 16th May 1917

In May 1917 Their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary made a moral boosting visit to hospitals, shipyards and factories across the north west of England. On Wednesday afternoon, 16th May the Royal Train arrived at Lancaster Castle station having already visited Manchester that morning.

The Royal party arrived at Lancaster Castle Station and then travelled to the Caton Road Projectile Works via Meeting House Lane, Market Street, Cheapside, North Road, Parliament Street, and the new road (which was to be later called “Kingsway” in honour of the visit).

Lancaster was thronged with crowds, the visit coincided with the tradesmen’s half-holiday, the schools were closed and local employers gave their workers time off to witness the historic visit. The employees of Waring and Gillow were no exception and they were massed in front of their works, and they sang the National Anthem as the King and Queen passed by.

Their Majesties visited both the Projectile Factory on Caton Road and The National Filling Factory at White Lund. They met both the managers and workers, and also invited guests, including wounded soldiers from the Auxiliary Hospital at Morecambe.

The King and Queen about to have tea in one of the canteens, White Lund Munitions Works.
 

The party took tea in one of the canteens, which was extensively decorated with flowers, before departing from the site, with roads lined with cheering crowds.

The Royal Party returned to Lancaster and after passing the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, which had been opened by the King and Queen when Duke and Duchess of York in March 1896, they travelled to Glasson Dock sidings where the Royal Train had been parked for the night. The Royal party expressed delight at the exquisite views across the Bay, of the Fylde district and the River Lune. The following morning the train departed to continue the tour, which included the shipyard at Barrow in Furness, Workington Iron Works, Sedbergh School Officer Training Corps and Carlisle and Gretna for the munitions works.

Skerton Council School log book for 16th May 1917:

‘School closed this afternoon in honour of the Royal Visit to the Munitions Work. Children assembled at 2pm and marched to the field in front of the works on Caton Road to witness the ceremony and to see the King and Queen.’

The local press report on the Royal Visit to Lancaster and the National Projectile Factory on Caton Road and National Filling Factory at White Lund, May 1917.

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.