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The Great and the Good
Royals, military heroes and sportsmen compete in the Edwardian fame game.
Mitchell and Kenyon's films suggest a company that was most at ease filming ordinary people at work and play. But the Edwardian era, just as today, had its public figures who could draw an audience - and audiences were M&K's business. Edwardian celebrity culture was narrower than today's. The royal family, naturally, were top of the tree. M&K was among the many companies to film Victoria's 1901 funeral, and royals, led by King Edward VII himself, feature often in their films - usually glimpsed briefly in a passing carriage. Behind follow military heroes of the Boer War, politicians and a host of mayors and other local dignitaries. But there are also early signs of the transformation of stardom that would be one of the hallmarks of the 20th century. An increasingly professionalised world of sport was already building a celebrity class of its own. Film and pop stars would follow, and from there the whole panoply of the modern fame game. Digitisation of this collection was funded by The National Lottery.
Funeral of Queen Victoria (1901)Funeral of Queen Victoria (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 5 minsSilent Location: Hyde Park
The crowds stand silent as the nation says goodbye to Queen Victoria in February 1901.
Joseph Chamberlain at Home (1902)Joseph Chamberlain at Home (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 3 minsSilent Location: Birmingham
A political giant at his magnificent Highbury estate in Birmingham.
Return of Kitchener (1902)Return of Kitchener (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 4 minsSilent
Lord Kitchener, Commander-in-Chief of the British army, returns from South Africa to cheering crowds.
Princess Louise at Liverpool (1906)Princess Louise at Liverpool (1906)
Non-Fiction 1906 1 minsSilent Location: Liverpool
A bagpipe band marches in honour of Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, on her visit to Liverpool.
Prince of Siam in Liverpool (1901)Prince of Siam in Liverpool (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 3 minsSilent Location: Liverpool
The future King of Siam takes a trip across the Mersey.
The King's Ride in the Isle of Man (1902)The King's Ride in the Isle of Man (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 1 minsSilent Location: Isle of Man
Crowds clamour for a view of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra (on tour) in the Isle of Man.
Lord Mayor of Cork Arriving For Official Opening of Cork Exhibition (1902)Lord Mayor of Cork Arriving For Official Opening of Cork Exhibition (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 1 minsSilent
Irish dignitaries turn up as Cork hosts the World's Fair.
Arthur Mold Bowling to A.N. Hornby (1901)Arthur Mold Bowling to A.N. Hornby (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 9 minsSilent Location: Old Trafford Cricket Ground
Did he bowl or did he throw? A fascinating record of an early cricketing controversy.
Wigan Coronation Celebrations and Street Scenes (1902)Wigan Coronation Celebrations and Street Scenes (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 5 minsSilent Location: Wigan
Men and boys (and a few girls) mark Edward VII's coronation on the picturesque cobbled streets of central Wigan.
Wigan Mayoral Coronation Procession (1902)Wigan Mayoral Coronation Procession (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 4 minsSilent Location: Wigan
The sun shines on the mayor's procession in Wigan to mark the coronation of Edward VII.
Chorley Coronation Processions (1911)Chorley Coronation Processions (1911)
Non-Fiction 1911 2 minsSilent Location: Chorley
The Lancashire cotton town brings out the bunting for George V's big day.
Coronation Festivities at Accrington (1902)Coronation Festivities at Accrington (1902)
Documentary 1902 8 minsSilent Location: Accrington
The Lancashire town greets Edward VII's big day with a cheery spectacle.
Visit of H.R.H. Princess Louise to Blackburn (1905)Visit of H.R.H. Princess Louise to Blackburn (1905)
Non-Fiction 1905 13 minsSilent Location: Blackburn
A majestic Blackpool monument to Queen Victoria is unveiled by Princess Louise.
Royal Proclamation of Death of Queen Victoria, Blackburn (1901)Royal Proclamation of Death of Queen Victoria, Blackburn (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 2 minsSilent Location: Blackburn
Crowds gather outside the Town Hall to hear the town crier's royal announcement.
St George's Day Procession in Liverpool (1901)St George's Day Procession in Liverpool (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 8 minsSilent Location: Liverpool
Remarkable scenes of St George's Day celebrations in early 20th century Merseyside.
Clitheroe Coronation Procession (1911)Clitheroe Coronation Procession (1911)
Non-Fiction 1902 13 minsSilent Location: Clitheroe
Lancashire bands and Beefeaters celebrate the crowning of King George V.
Police Annual Inspection at Birchfields Park (1901)Police Annual Inspection at Birchfields Park (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 9 minsSilent Location: Manchester
Edwardian Manchester bobbies are put through their paces.
Royal Visit to Manchester, Owen's College (1902)Royal Visit to Manchester, Owen's College (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 3 minsSilent Location: Manchester
King Edward VII pays tribute to Manchester scholars during a visit to the city.
Great Harwood Coronation Celebrations (1911)Great Harwood Coronation Celebrations (1911)
Non-Fiction 1911 7 minsSilent Location: Great Harwood
Crowds celebrate the crowning of George V and his consort Mary on a windy June day in the Lancashire mill town.
His Worship the Mayor Leaving Lancaster Town Hall (1902)His Worship the Mayor Leaving Lancaster Town Hall (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 0 minsSilent Location: Lancaster
Mitchell & Kenyon capture the 'lighter' side of Lancastrian officialdom.
Arrival of VIPs for Official Opening of Cork Exhibition (1902)Arrival of VIPs for Official Opening of Cork Exhibition (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 1 minsSilent
Horse-drawn carriages deliver dignitaries to the Cork Exhibition.
Visit of the Duke of Connaught CIC Forces in Ireland and Prince Henry of Prussia to Cork Exhibition (1902)Visit of the Duke of Connaught CIC Forces in Ireland and Prince Henry of Prussia to Cork Exhibition (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 3 minsSilent
Representatives of two royal families visit one of early 20th century Ireland's most ambitious exhibitions.
Funeral of the Late Captain of the Mexborough Fire Brigade (1902)Funeral of the Late Captain of the Mexborough Fire Brigade (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 4 minsSilent Location: Doncaster
A well-respected community figure is laid to rest in Edwardian South Yorkshire.
Leeds Mayoral Procession For the Coronation Celebrations (1902)Leeds Mayoral Procession For the Coronation Celebrations (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 2 minsSilent Location: Leeds
Edward VII's rescheduled coronation was held on 8th August, not a nice day in Leeds...
Trade Procession at Opening of Cork Exhibition (1902)Trade Procession at Opening of Cork Exhibition (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 6 minsSilent
Businesses, unions, religious representatives and civic dignitaries march through Cork.
Funeral Procession in Edinburgh (1901)Funeral Procession in Edinburgh (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 2 minsSilent Location: Edinburgh
Mourners process through the wintry streets of Edinburgh.
Oddfellows Procession in St Helens (c.1901)Oddfellows Procession in St Helens (c.1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 3 minsSilent Location: St Helens
Members of this Friendly Society stream past the camera.
Procession of Firemen, Nelson (c.1902)Procession of Firemen, Nelson (c.1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 1 minsSilent
Mounted police lead smartly uniformed firefighters past William Widdup's furniture store in Edwardian Nelson.
Hollow Drift Children's Procession, Durham (1902)Hollow Drift Children's Procession, Durham (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 9 minsSilent Location: Old Elvet, Durham
Thousands march up Old Elvet in Durham to mark the Coronation of Edward VII.
Royal Visit to Rhyl (1902)Royal Visit to Rhyl (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 5 minsSilent Location: Rhyl
The Prince and Princess of Wales open Rhyl's Royal Alexandra Hospital.
Royal Visit to Bangor (1902)Royal Visit to Bangor (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 2 minsSilent Location: Bangor
Crowds line up for a fleeting glimpse of the Prince of Wales, later George V.
Visit of Sir George Cotton at Accrington (1902)Visit of Sir George Cotton at Accrington (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 1 minsSilent Location: Accrington
A small crowd greets a local Conservative parliamentary candidate at Accrington station.
Wainwright Conservative Club, Blackpool (c.1906) Wainwright Conservative Club, Blackpool (c.1906)
Non-Fiction 1906 2 minsSilent Location: Blackpool
A lively crowd greets Blackpool's Conservative MP - possibly on election day.
Funeral of Canon Morrissey in Burnley (1903)Funeral of Canon Morrissey in Burnley (1903)
Non-Fiction 1903 5 minsSilent Location: Burnley
Unusual and sombre footage of much-loved Lancashire priest's funeral.
Funeral in Manchester (1904)Funeral in Manchester (1904)
Non-Fiction 1904 2 minsSilent Location: Manchester
Crowds line the streets of Edwardian Manchester to send off an unidentified military hero.
Birmingham University Procession on Degree Day (1901)Birmingham University Procession on Degree Day (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 9 minsSilent Location: Birmingham
Female graduates and gents sporting spectacular Edwardian whiskers take part in Birmingham’s first Degree Day ceremony.
Lord Roberts Presenting Medals to Boer War Volunteers in Liverpool (1901)Lord Roberts Presenting Medals to Boer War Volunteers in Liverpool (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 9 minsSilent Location: Liverpool
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces recognises war heroes old and new in front of crowds on a wet day in Edwardian Liverpool.