THE LONDON SOCIAL CALENDAR IN 1897
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London's Social Season was fluid, depending on weather and hunting. The season typically coincided with the opening of Parliament, when its members would file into London from their country homes. Social events, however, weren't in full swing until Easter, when people started to filter in from their country estates. In 1897, the year of Queen Victoria's Jubilee, the annual exhibition at the Royal Academy of Art was considered "official" opening of the season.
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CC Image Courtesy of Pamela J. Eisenberg on Flickr
MARCH
4th The Second Drawing Room of the Season. Court presentations made to her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales on behalf of her Majesty.
26th The Grand National horserace in Aintree, near Liverpool |
APRIL
3rd The 54th Annual University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge
7th The Physician at the Criterion Theatre, attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Christian The Duke of York presides over a meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of England 10th International Football Match at Crystal Palace, England v. Scotland 18th Easter 29th Second Sandown Park Spring Meeting All Season: Church Parades in Hyde Park |
MAY
3rd Opening day of the 129th Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts
10th Royal Opera season, Covent Garden, opens with Faust 12th First meeting of the Wheel Club at Magazine, Hyde Park, 11:15 a.m. 15th Gymkhana at Hereford House 21st Secret Service performed at Adelphi Theater, attended by Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Victoria and the Duke of York 22nd Ladies Driving Competition at Ranelagh 27th Lady Mary Hope's Ball Last two weeks of May, the following notables have arrived in London: Earl and Countess of Limerick, Earl and Countess of Harringtion, Lord and Lady Clonbrock, Lord and Lady Amherst of Hackney, Lady Victoria Lambton, Hon. Sir Percy, |
JUNE
2nd Epsom Derby Day
15th - 18th Royal Ascot 21st - July 1st Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon 28th Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. Novice's Cup, Ranelagh 29th Princess Frederica opens the Summer Sale of the Working Ladies Guild |
JULY
2nd Lady Devonshire's Costume Ball at Devonshire House
6th Duchess of Westminster's Dance at Grosvenor House 8th Ladies Kennel Association's Summer Show, Royal Botanic Gardens, Regents Park 14th - 16th The Henley Royal Regatta 27th Lady Ellesmere's Ball at Bridgewater House |
AUGUST
2nd Closing Day of the Royal Academy of Arts Exhibition. Bank Holiday.
The season comes to a close and people take advantage of the last days of summer along the coasts of England and France. |
Sources:
"Arrangements." Morning Post, April 22, June 10, and June 28, 1897. Accessed on The British Newspaper Archive.
Sproule, Anna. The Social Calendar. Poole, Dover: Blanford Press, 1978.
Unless noted, all images are from this website author's collection.
