Halifax Royal Visit 1863
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Royal Visit to Halifax
On Monday the 3rd August 1863, the Prince of Wales - the future Edward VII - arrived at Halifax station for a 2-day visit to the town. During the visit, the Prince opened the new Town Hall. The purpose-built Halifax Town Hall was first proposed in 1853. With three designs proposed by three different parties led by Edward Akroyd, John Crossley and Sir Gilbert Scott. A design by Sir Charles Barry was chosen and the foundation stone was laid in 1861, after his death in 1860. Barry's son Edward Middleton Barry completed the design, and it was constructed by Whiteley Brothers of Leeds, on land owned by John Crossley.
Halifax Town Hall was opened on the 4th of August 1863 and around 70,000 people attended, with a service in the Piece Hall. The Prince was met by the Mayor, John Crossley and other Councillors, with a guard of honour by 300 of the Halifax Volunteer Rifleman. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway put on 358 trains to Halifax on the 2 days of the Prince's visit, and an estimated 100,000 people came to Halifax to join the celebrations. There were 870 police on duty, 200 of them from London and others from Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and elsewhere. It rained heavily throughout the visit.