Russia Report 1873

The good people of Kingston Upon Hull always put on a good show to make visitors welcome. 

This would normally be with plenty of forward planning but what about with as little as 48 hours notice? 

That was certainly the case in the July of 1873 when the Lord Mayor and Corporation of Hull received notification of the imminent arrival of the Heir Apparent to the Russian Empire, the Czarewitch who within 8 years would become Alexander the Third. 

It was an important visit for the City given the strong commercial links of the port with Russia but it was not a State sponsored visit which was disappointing for the local Council and its Officers in terms of making it a great Civic Event. 

The Heir Apparent was on a flying visit to oversee the construction, by Earles Shipbuilders who operated on Hedon Road, of a Yacht for use by the Russian Royal Family. 

The entourage were to arrive by train from London with a brief halt at Hessle where the baggage was off loaded for forwarding to Kirkella Hall which was to host the private party. 

Even with such short notice a very credible programme of events was rapidly formulated to the extent that tickets were issued for those privileged enough to be on the platform at Paragon Station for the arrival. 

As the locomotive approached the citizens of Hull congregated on the newly built Park Street bridge and in the precincts of the station itself men and boys clambered up onto the roofs of carriages to get a better vantage point. 

From somewhere in the vaults was found VIP carpets in green and crimson as well as a multitude of what was described in the local press as "large and handsome flags" on municipal buildings. 

The Officials of Kingston Upon Hull dressed in their formal ceremonial attire and a good contingent of the Fourth East York Artillery Volunteers and their Band formed a guard of honour for the Russian Heir. 

There was by all accounts a large crowd either drawn by news of the event or just milling about on their own normal day to day activities. They were all trying to catch a glimpse of Alexander and his Consort. The Czar to be was a tall man, over six feet in height and wore a light grey suit. 

He paused briefly to receive the welcome speech from the Lord Mayor but without response as he was understandably keen to fulfil the purpose of his private visit across town. 

The route taken by the Royal convoy followed Whitefriargate, Lowgate, High Street and Market Place with yet more displays of flags and bunting and an enthusiastic crowd. 

The shipyard of Earles was a major employer in Hull with around 2000 workers covering all of the skills and tasks of an important company. As well as surveying his own commissioned Yacht the Czarewitch showed great interest in many of the other vessels at varying stages of construction, amongst them warships for the Chilean Navy and a vessel intended for a cross channel route with a revolutionary Bessemer Saloon which pivoted with the motion of the ship to counter sea sickness. 

After a couple of hours the Russian Royal party took the long drive westwards along Anlaby Road, Wold Carr and through the small village of Anlaby to stay and be entertained at Kirkella Hall. 

The best intentions of a Civic Welcome had been largely thwarted by the private purposes and brevity of the visit but graciously the Czarewitch sent a letter of very complimentary thanks to the Hull Corporation which was very well received.