The St. Albans Pageant 1953

Scenes of the 1953 St Albans Pageant: Masque of the Queens, in the Coronation year of Queen Elizabeth II.

The film opens with credits to the Pageant Master, Cyril Swinson and to Clifford C. Turnbull who produced and photographed the film, assisted by Tony Mardorf. The theme of historical Queens was inspired by the Coronation of Elizabeth II. 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. 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. 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 teams pulling a chariot and 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 - Queen Boadicea: The Battle Against the Romans - AD 61. Whipping of a British slave by a Roman. Arrival of warrior Queen in her chariot. Galloping horses, fighting and smoke. Episode 2 - Queen Matilda: The Solemn Dedication of the Abbey 28th December 1116. Episode 3 - Queen Eleanor: The Abbot and the Women of St Albans – 1274. Women carrying heavy loads, broadcast sowing. Dancing. Episode 4 - Queen Philippa: Her Churching at the Abbey – 1341. Episode 5 - Queen Katherine: A Royal Visit to the Abbey – 1428. Dancing. Performance of St George slaying a spectacular dragon with steaming breath. Episode 6 - Queen Margaret: The Second Battle of St Albans, 17th February 1461. Archers, fighting. Brief views of the seated audience watching the pageant. Episode 7 - Queen Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII at Sopwell Nunnery – 1532. Playing bowls. Episode 8 - Queen Elizabeth: A Visit to St Albans, 1577. Sedan chair. Morris dancing and country dancing. Episode 9 - Princess Anne visits the Churchills - Early July, 1692. Carriage drawn by four horses. Grecian-style dancing. Episode 10 - Queen Victoria: The Restoration of the Abbey - 1856. Playing croquet and tennis. Dancing including Highland reel. Epilogue - The Chorus and her attendants. Assembly of the pageant performers in their various period costumes including the horse riders. The audience is seen briefly. The End

Credits

Pageant Master: Cyril Swinson Film Produced and Photographed by Clifford C. Turnbull Assisted by Tony Mardorf

Additional Description

https://historicalpageants.ac.uk/featured-pageants/st-albans-pageant-1953-masque-queens-1953/ 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/1205/

Intertitles

The St Albans Pageant 1953 Masque of the Queens Pageant Master, Cyril Swinson Film Produced and Photographed by Clifford C. Turnbull Assisted by Tony Mardorf Episode 1 - Queen Boadicea: The Battle Against the Romans AD 61. Episode 2 - Queen Matilda: The Solemn Dedication of the Abbey 28th December 1116. Episode 3 - Queen Eleanor: The Abbot and the Women of St Albans – 1274. Episode 4 - Queen Philippa: Her Churching at the Abbey – 1341. Episode 5 - Queen Katherine: A Royal Visit to the Abbey – 1428. Episode 6 - Queen Margaret: The Second Battle of St Albans, 17th February 1461. Episode 7 - Queen Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII at Sopwell Nunnery – 1532. Episode 8 - Queen Elizabeth: A Visit to St Albans, 1577. Episode 9 - Princess Anne visits the Churchills - Early July, 1692. Episode 10 - Queen Victoria: The Restoration of the Abbey - 1856. Epilogue. The End