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Medieval Revival: 1839 Eglington Tournament. A Medieval knight’s joust at the dawn of the Victorian Era.

Nostalgia is a feature long analyzed in the human experience whether on an individual & personal level or a more broad cultural level. In 1839 Britain, at the dawn of the Victorian Era, one moment of nostalgia captured the popular imagination of the British and European public. While its intention may have been to harken back to a romantic vision of the past in an effort to instill national pride, its legacy was one more mixed than its ambition. On the downside, it lead to the near financial ruin of its creator & it was criticized by many as an extravagance of the wealthy in a time when many were facing poverty. On the perhaps more positive side, it tapped into a certain cultural mood that looked romantically on its past and prefigured some of the celebrated visual & literary art tastes that would come to define the Victorian Era. This moment in time was the Eglington Tournament, held in southwestern Scotland in August 1839.

Origins: An overview

-Queen Victoria had taken to the throne as Queen of Britain & Ireland in 1837 upon the death of her uncle William IV, having just turned 18 she was now monarch to the most powerful nation & empire in the world at the time.

-The early 19th century had seen a cultural reaction to the implications of the 18th Enlightenment & subsequent Industrial Revolution that had taken foot. The reaction took foot in many European nations and the Americans as a reaction to the modern world’s rapid social changes especially in the areas of science, culture, industry & economics. As a whole this reaction became known as Romanticism.

-Whereas the Enlightenment placed more emphasis on scientific reasoning, rationality & helped to spur scientific & technological advancement in particular. The Romanticism of the 19th century tried to temper the socio-economic & cultural upheaval this generated. The Enlightenment had lead to the American Revolution & later the French Revolution & subsequent Napoleonic Wars which were viewed by some as the excesses of Enlightenment and its topsy-turvy effects on society.

-Romanticism tended to find its inspiration in the past with elements of mysticism with an emphasis on the supposed morality of the past. It also found beauty in what it called the transcendent usually to be found in natural scenes Fixated on a proverbial golden age, the followers of Romanticism could derive meaning from in the wake of the upheavals of modernity. This romantic view was more often than not based on a reality that never was, or at best where select aspects could be found in.

-In Britain, Romanticism hit on every level of society from the poor working class to the developing middle class & the upper class. One example was the rebellious social movement called the Luddite Movement (1811-1816) which was made up of textile workers who sought to actively destroy textile factories, an early byproduct of the industrial age. Though their primary motivation was for the very real concern of economic dislocation due to automation. The symbolism of their reactionary stance against modern technology was lampooned by some and celebrated by others. Those who celebrated it were sympathetic to the very real changes industrialization were bringing to people’s lives.

-By the Victorian Era, Romanticism was less focused on the economic dislocation of industrialization. The Luddites failed to stop technology & by then steam powered transportation at sea and on land with the advent of the train & railroads had begun to first make their imprint. These were increasingly accepted as part of the modern world.

-Romanticism was increasingly found in the cultural realm rather than just the socio-political. Particularly in the arts both visual & literary. As reflected in topics with a nostalgia for both nature scenes cultural norms that prefigured the modern era. They began to reflect in everything from fashion to social mores.

-In Scotland and with Britain at large, increasingly their became a re-fascination with the culture of the Scottish Highlands. Something actively oppressed following the last of the Jacobite Rebellions in (1745-46). This fascination was largely fueled by author Walter Scott (1771-1832) whose books focused much on promoting a look back at Medieval Scotland & England. Portraying a romantic vision of Scottish Highland culture in particular. His books Ivanhoe, Rob Roy & others became popular. He also helped facilitate the 1822 visit to Scotland of King George IV, a PR visit which endeared the monarch to Scotland but also Scottish culture to Britain more broadly.

-Scottish tartans, kilts & other fashion became in vogue, in particular with the wealthy. Additionally, Scottish folk dances and supposed tales of heroics of various Scottish clans against the romantic backdrop of the Highlands, a mysterious place to most outsiders at the time enthralled the public. This was paired with a look back at the courtly life of Medieval England and a belief in the supposed morals of the time. As stories of knights, damsels in distress, heroic kings, virtuous queens, dangerous witches & mysterious but kindly wizard sages became fashionable in literature & poetry. Most prominent was a revival in the tales of King Arthur and Camelot. There were also Welsh & Irish cultural revivals as part of the broader Celtic Revival.

-Wherever one went in Britain, Romanticism increasingly had a grip on the popular culture and one family and man in particular sought to create an event that would epitomize the British brand of Romanticism...

Setting the Grand Stage: The Earl of Eglington & his vision

-The 13th Earl of Eglington was Archibald Montgomerie (1812-1861) of Scottish Clan Montgomery, also known as Lord Montgomerie. He was a British nobleman of the Scottish nobility (Peerage of Scotland) and served as a Conservative politician who most prominently served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1852.

-Lord Montgomerie like his direct predecessors were the hereditary Clan Chiefs of Clan Montgomery. Making them the nominal leaders of the clan. Clan Montgomery’s chiefs had their origins in the Norman Invasion of England, originally a Norman (French-Viking) family who first settled Wales and then emigrated to Scotland in the 12th century. In time Clan Montgomery’s chiefs intermarried into the Scottish population and became culturally Scottish. They also had a history military service, sometimes in service to England during Scotland’s periods of internal infighting. They also sided with the Hanoverian government against the Scottish Highlander Jacobites.

-Lord Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglington was born in a wealthy and leisurely existence of horseback riding and playing golf. The Montgomery chiefs had Eglington Castle built to serve as their country home and seat of power. It was located in Ayrshire a historical county of Scotland located in the Southwest Lowlands of the country.

-Eglington Castle in its original form was burnt in the 16th century but the most famous and final version came to existence in the late 18th-early 19th century when the 12th Earl (Archibald’s father) had it built in a Scottish Gothic Castle style, reminiscent of the old “medieval” structures, it was expressly romantic by design and reactionary to the industrial age.

-Eglington became regarded as one of the great country estates of the nobility in all of Scotland for its grand appearance. It was also renowned for its expansive pleasure gardens, with woods straddled along the banks of a river that flowed through the grounds.

-Lord Montgomerie had been raised in an atmosphere steeped in the romantic grounds of his home along with the personal stories of his ancestors military service & the broader popular culture of Romanticism. In 1838 when it was announced that Queen Victoria’s coronation would not feature some of the traditional Medieval ceremonies, namely a Medieval style banquet, some in the nobility decried this as a loss of tradition in an increasingly modern world. This was in part determined by the Whig Prime Minister Lord Melbourne. Britain as the time was facing an economic recession that had hit hard the working class. The Whigs were concerned that ostentatious celebrations in the midst of great economic suffering might appear as public relations disasters for the Queen and her government. Their had been similar concerns with the 1820 coronation of George IV and public outcry from the expense of that ceremony.

-For Lord Montgomerie, this served in part as an impetus to make a statement of cultural intent, a romantic one. If the Queen’s coronation wouldn’t include the “ancestral” rites of passage from the medieval days then Montgomerie would throw his own celebration of a bygone era. His vision...

-He’d throw a medieval jousting tournament featuring “knights” and their retinues. This would be coupled with a festival of sorts featuring a banquet. He would also throw it on the grounds of the Eglington estate. The jousting tournament would be the central feature, a spectacle of almost performance art, meant to harken back to an age in British history of chivalry and medieval “values” meant to be a pure reaction to the Industrial Age and modern trappings. Montgomerie hoped it would conjure up national pride and instill romantic views of the the past, setting a tone to permeate the culture at large.

-Word went out about this jousting tournament and the autumn of 1838, 150 would be “knights” met in London to discuss the tournament, each could create their own armor, have a retinue of their choice and compete in the tournament but they would be responsible for their own expenses which were quite large. Most backed out would apprised of the estimated expense to be undertaken. Roughly 40 or so decided to push ahead with the goal of competing in the tournament.

-Samuel Pratt, a dealer in medieval armor would be responsible for the custom designs of armor along with the design of each knightly retinue’s costumes, décor & pavilion. He would also supply the tents, stages & stands for spectators and guests including the banquet hall. It is unknown how much of what Pratt supplied was genuine medieval armor as he claimed all were supposed to be. Only one was known to be looked into and it was found to be not original or authentic armor but imitation in the style of medieval armor.

-Meanwhile, Lord Montgomerie oversaw the festival grounds being developed on his estate and went to great personal expense to see everything was to his liking. Montgomerie didn’t know whether his vision would pay off but he was determined to throw it.

-Dress rehearsals were held in a London park by a list of participants roughly 20 in number with the final rehearsal being in mid-July 1839. The tournament would be held in late August 1839 at Eglington Castle. The final rehearsal went well, the “knights” were well rehearsed the weather was in fine form at the final practice run, The press who assembled to cover the event predicted success at Eglington.

-The prospect of the tournament indeed captured the public’s imagination as memorabilia related to it sold to all classes through out Britain, demonstrating its popular appeal. Queen Victoria would not attend herself personally thought the idea a foolish venture, mere spectacle but she did comment in her diary that some elements of the event were aesthetically pleasing to hear about and discuss.

-Lord Montgomerie announced to the press the tournament would be open to the public and free of charge but that the tickets would have to be applied for and were of limited number. He also requested attendees dress in medieval costume if able. In effect he was creating the first modern renaissance faire. Initially he anticipated attendance of 4,000 people. However, he was soon receiving requests from all over Britain to attend from people from all walks of life.

-Determined to meet demand, Montgomerie raised the preparations to accommodate more than to two times the original order for attendance. It was estimated that roughly 100,000 would come to attend the tournament over the three days it was held.

The Tournament: The show must go on...

-They came in droves, by carriage, by horse, by ship, by train and by foot. Attendees, either with tickets or not by the thousands, backing up the dirt roads of southwest Scotland for miles for instance Glasgow to Ayr was filled end to end for a length of 30 miles, lined with abandoned carriages as curious onlookers travelled by foot. The town of Irvine near Eglington did not have enough accommodation so private homeowners charged for room & board at great prices making a profit.

-Some reports say those without accommodation merely slept outdoors under the grandstands or even in hollow trees.

-The tournament was held on a meadow near the castle in a loop in the River Irvine which passed through the estate.

-Day one which was August 28th, 1839 showed an opening parade featuring 40 knights and their entourages who were to parade before the Queen of Beauty (Lady Somerset) who was the sort of pageant overseer. Despite the best hopes things went awry on day one.

-Each knight and their retinue were to mount their horse ride to the castle and pickup a lady in waiting, then march along the road to the meadow but the participants were not well trained to mount their horse in armor and there was no control as to the parade’s order overall. This lead to hours long delays and traffic jams for the parade. Nevertheless, the crowd did enjoy the pageantry of it all.

-Just as the parade was organized and about to be underway, a sudden rainstorm as is frequent in Scotland, appeared. Lord Montgomerie had all the ladies in waiting stowed into carriages, while the knights and their retinues marched the parade’s length soaked in mud and rain. While the crowd covered themselves in umbrellas.

-The tournament lists & grandstand for 2,000 spectators also suffered rain and wind damage plus muddy grounds. Finally, Lord Montgomerie stated the rain would have to delay the tournament weather permitting in a day or two. The banquet and festival was likewise postponed and everyone who had accommodations went back while those thousands without toughed it out in the rain where “shelter” could be provided.

-Day two was August 29th. Lord Montgomerie decided with the participants to postpone for another day to allow repairs to commence on the tents, grandstand and lists in the interim. The Eglington estate grounds staff set to work making the repairs and draining the lists from the flooded river.

-The third and final day was August 30th, in which case the weather was overall much better. Finally, the parade procession and tournament was held. Involving several jousts where of the participants, James Fairlie “Knight of the Golden Lion” was the winner on points. However, symbolically Lord Montgomerie was declared the winner. One knight suffered injuries requiring medical attention and two knights got caught into such a fray they had to be pulled apart by a marshal of the tournament. A main feature was the melee fought between many knights at one time. However, the still muddied grounds made the execution of the event difficult at times.

-Later that day, the banquet for 400 and ball for 2,000 guests were held, most dressed in Medieval attire with a military orchestra from the 2nd Dragoons regiment providing the musical accompaniment using medieval instruments and tunes. The banquets food followed authentic medieval recipes and was served on custom gold & silver plates made for the occasion. As bad weather once again appeared, Montgomerie declared the day and tournament over.

The notable participants:

John, Viscount Alford, aged 27, "Knight of the Black Lion"

Captain Beresford, aged 32, "Knight of the Stag's Head"

Archibald, Earl of Cassillis, aged 23, "Knight of the Dolphin"

William, Earl of Craven, aged 30, "Knight of the Griffin"

Captain James O. Fairlie, aged 30, "Knight of the Golden Lion"

the Hon. H. E. H. Gage, aged 25, "Knight of the Ram"

George Viscount of Glenlyon, aged 25, "Knight of the Gael"

Sir Francis Hopkins, Bart., aged 26, "Knight of the Burning Tower"

the Hon. Edward Jerningham, aged 35, "Knight of the Swan"

Charles Lamb, aged 23, "Knight of the White Rose"

Richard Lechemere, aged 40, "Knight of the Red Rose"

Walter Little Gilmour, aged 32, "The Black Knight"

Henry, Marquess of Waterford, aged 28, "Knight of the Dragon"

Cropley, Earl of Shaftesbury

Charles, Marquess of Londonderry

Prince Louis Napoleon- future Napoleon III of France

Princess Esterhazy of Hungary

Count Persigny of France

Count Lubeski of Poland

-Additionally, Lord Montgomerie also participated.

Aftermath:

-Lord Montgomerie was awarded a nearly 5ft tall sterling silver trophy that weighed 1600 ounces and was awarded to the Earl of Eglington in 1843 as a honorary piece for his organizing & hosting the event.

-Montgomerie himself was in financial ruin due to great expense it took to organize and host the event, he made no profit by not charging for tickets and when greater numbers of attendees showed up the damage to restore his estate grounds coupled with flood damage was extensive. This was in addition to all the costs of preparation.

-Public opinion was mixed, some in the press, in particular Whig friendly journalists declared it a waste of money in midst of a economic recession and merely little more than pageantry for the upper classes to amuse themselves.

-Attendees seemed to have enjoyed it favorably despite the weather. Given the demand for tickets to attend along with the press coverage and cottage industry of commemorative memorabilia that sold at the time for the event, it certainly captured the interest of the public.

-Subsequent tournaments were held in London starting in 1840, some as parody pieces and others as lucrative business ventures.

-Did Lord Montgomerie achieve his aim, which was never quite clearly defined? Though not a financial success for him as it was for others, did it really tap into a sense of national pride, by staging an event involving nostalgia for an era long gone by? Assuming rich costume guises, elaborate rehearsals and pushing a public spectacle but for what? Its debatable whether it had any lasting impact, other than capturing the general attention of society for a moment and today is usually remembered as a failure for its economic ruin on the Earl and for its criticisms as an extravagant amusement for the upper class.

-However, by looking to Britain’s medieval past, to hopefully tap into some greater cultural expression. Not only in the guise of period costumes and recipes, the tournament was able to prefigure the medieval nostalgia that was to permeate Victorian Era culture. From the literature and art of the Pre-Raphaelites with their emphasis on medieval themes, to the social norms regarding “gentlemanly” & “ladylike” behavior in the public realm and increasingly found in the moralizing tales of Victorian literature, to become adopted as the social values of both the upper class and burgeoning middle class of British society. Serving as a romantic sheen or façade over the Victorian Era. Whether Eglington directly contributed to this later nostalgia & emphasis, undeniably it along with other Romantic era cultural strains attempted to express a rose tinted glimpse of a past society, that one hoped could temper and ground anxiety over an ever changing modern society.

Photo Review: Islington Golf Club

Islington is an under-the-radar Stanley Thompson design because it's situated between two Canadian greats: St. George's Golf & Country Club and Toronto Golf Club. But no doubt, Islington is an enjoyable round of golf with a crazy set of greens. My thoughts

Etobicoke, Ontario

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If you’ve ever heard Etobicoke and Stanley Thompson in the same sentence, it’s probably because one of Thompson’s most famous designs, St. George’s Golf & Country Club, resides in the Toronto suburb. But head south about 5 minutes from St. George’s and you find Islington Golf Club, also designed by Thompson 6 years earlier. While not the…

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