St. Albans Millenary Pageant

Scenes of the outdoor performance of St Albans Pageant 1948.

Scenes of the 1948 St Albans Millenary Pageant celebrating the millennium between 948 and 1948. In 948 St Albans School was founded by Abbot Ulsinus (Abbot Wulsin). The film opens with the cover of the Millenary Pageant programme followed by a credit to the Pageant Master, Cyril Swinson. Each new episode is preceded by the relevant page in the pageant programme. The pageant took place on the open grassy space of Verulamium Park in front of a large, seated audience, partly seen in the Epilogue section. Surrounding trees and the Roman walls provided a backdrop, as well as St Albans Abbey and the lake in some sequences, together with scenery and props produced for the pageant including a replica of the Eleanor Cross. The elaborately costumed performers portray celebrations and discord from landmark events on specific dates and over longer periods in St Albans’ history. Several episodes include horses with individual riders and as a team pulling a carriage. Prologue – performance of the pageant hymn. The film is silent but a commentary on the Pageant was provided throughout by the Chorus. Episode 1 – The Martyrdom of St Alban, AD 303. Romans including a soldier on horseback. Episode 2 – King Offa Founds the Abbey, AD 793. Episode 3 – Ulsinus Has a Plan AD 948. This relates to the founding of St Albans School. Large model buildings are carried in procession. Episode 4 – Holy Day AD 1440. Procession and celebrations with dancing. Episode 5 – Queen Elizabeth Visits Gorhambury AD 1572. The Queen visited Gorhambury House near St Albans, the home of Sir Nicholas Bacon, in 1572 and 1577. Queen and her entourage on horseback. Morris dancers. Episode 6 – King Charles I Visits St Albans School AD 1626. Dancing and wrestling. Episode 7 – The Civil War, 16th January AD 1643. Cavaliers and Roundheads. Episode 8 – Whigs Versus Tories, An Election Scene, AD 1722. Lady arrives in carriage drawn by four horses. Episode 9 – St Albans is a City AD 1877. Including team physical exercises for girls, dancing, penny farthing cycles, cricket. Epilogue. The Chorus enters with his attendants. Parade and assembly of the pageant performers in their various period costumes. The End Gateway Film Productions 84 Powys Lane, Palmers Green, London N13

Credits

Pageant Master : Cyril Swinson Producer : Gateway Film Productions

Intertitles

St Albans Millenary Pageant 948 - 1948 (on cover of pageant programme) Pageant Master, Cyril Swinson Prologue Episode 1 – The Martyrdom of St Alban, AD 303. Episode 2 – King Offa Founds the Abbey, AD 793. Episode 3 – Ulsinus Has a Plan AD 948. Episode 4 – Holy Day AD 1440. Episode 5 – Queen Elizabeth Visits Gorhambury AD 1572 Episode 6 – King Charles I Visits St Albans School AD 1626. Episode 7 – The Civil War, 16th January AD 1643. Episode 8 – Whigs Versus Tories, An Election Scene, AD 1722. Episode 9 – St Albans is a City AD 1877. Epilogue The End Gateway Film Productions, 84 Powys Lane, Palmers Green, London N13

Additional Description

The modern timeline of St Albans history gives an alternative date of Third Century (circa AD 250) for the Martyrdom of St Alban. https://www.enjoystalbans.com/history-of-st-albans/ https://historicalpageants.ac.uk/featured-pageants/st-albans-1948-austerity-pageant/ https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/pageant-fever Mark Freeman, The Pageants of St Albans: An Illustrated History, published 2020. Detailed description scene by scene https://historicalpageants.ac.uk/pageants/1208/