Eglinton Tournament
eglinton tournament reenactment medieval joust revel held north ayrshire scotland august funded organized archibald earl eglinton took place eglinton castle ayrshire queen beauty georgiana duchess somerset many distinguished visitor took part including prince louis napoleon future emperor french tournament deliberate act romanticism drew spectator primarily known ridicule poured whig problem caused rainstorm time view mixed whatever opinion may formed success tournament imitation ancient manner custom heard one feeling admiration expressed gorgeousness whole scene considered pageant even wednesday procession seen greatest possible disadvantage dullest eye glistened delight lengthy stately train swept marshalled list participant undergone regular training preparation many work art commissioned inspired eglinton tournament effect public feeling course thcentury gothic revivalism ambition carried event lavish tournament brussels presaged historical reenactment present feature tournament actually inspired walter scott novel ivanhoe attempting living reenactment literary romance eglintons word aware manifold deficiency exhibition — perhaps deeply interested aware humble imitation scene imagination portrayed least done something towards revival chivalry others made profit lord eglinton absorb loss earl granddaughter viva montgomerie recalled memoir spent wealth estate gothic revival rise romanticism late th early th century international phenomenon medievalstyle joust example regularly held sweden gothic novel castle otranto horace walpole – many work sir walter scott popularised idea passionate romanticism praise chivalric ideal walpole one first england renovate mansion mockgothic castle strawberry hill – medieval culture widely admired antidote modern enlightenment industrial age play theatrical work ivanhoe playing six different production london alone perpetuated romanticism knight castle feast tournament caspar david friedrich – germany painted magnificent gothic ruin spiritual allegory jane austen – wrote novel northanger abbey written published satire romantic affectation montgomerie family romantic tale chivalry bound idea revival ideal acquisition pennon spear harry hotspur aka sir henry percy battle otterburn montgomerie price hotspur release building castle polnoon eaglesham renfrewshire montgomery said duke northumberland head percy family made overture return pennon given answer there good lea land eglinton ever chevy chase otterburn let percy come take whig prime minister lord melbourne announced coronation queen victoria would include traditional medievalstyle banquet westminster hall seeking disempower monarchy particular romantic ideology politics general normal activity whig party face recession obviously anachronistic part coronation celebration would considered extravagance furthermore memory embarrassing mishap george iv westminster hall banquet still fresh uproar resulted end proceeding people tried obtain valuable tableware souvenir king william iv cancelled banquet prevent repeat although popular support government refusal hold traditional event many complaint various public struggle well part antiquary tradesman metropolis critic referred victoria slimmeddown coronation scornfully penny crowning despite attempt achieve economy contemporary account point victoria coronation fact cost £ george iv nevertheless coronation feature innovation procession palace westminster abbey popular however ancient great feast cancelled also ritual traditionally paid state anyway throwing gauntlet queen champion symbolic presentation two falcon obeisance past fad urgent need lord eglintons stepfather sir charles lamb knight marshal royal household would led horse great hall westminster part one colourful widely loved ritual august court journal printed rumour earl eglinton going host great jousting tournament castle scotland speculated sir charles son suggested lord eglinton provide nation missing rite passage holding great mediaeval festival whatever detail within week eglinton confirmed rumour true first suggestion mediaeval game would held next private race meeting eglinton including ceremony challenge carried knight clad armour autumn onehundred fifty prospective knight met showroom samuel pratt dealer medieval armor bond street london many backed realised astronomical cost difficulty forty determined try regardless pratt charge arrangement pavilion armour banner decor costume also would supply stand marquee great tent feast ball although armour supplied pratt supposed genuinely medieval unclear many suit actually armour kept track rd marquess waterford display windsor castle pastiche dress rehearsal held london garden behind eyre arm st john wood tavern close regent park last one saturday july nineteen knight participated audience invitation many elite elite said court journal invited watch attended rehearsal went perfectly weather sunny banner armour tent impressive jousting successful even critic conceded tournament likely fine show massproduction memorabilia copy artwork commission tournament demonstrated upperclass britain took notice tory eyed antique armour dreamed courtly love queen victoria twice noted diary discussed tournament lord melbourne although view event would foolish amusement choice duchess somerset queen beauty liking two month live lady flora hastings wrote mother subject upcoming eglinton tournament expressing concern one knight might killed violent sport hand whig social reformer utilitarian expressed outrage fantasy time economy shamble poverty rampant many worker starving emotion ran high satirical cartoon insult passion aroused side whig calling tory wastrel tory calling whig heartless whatever eglintons original intent tournament symbolic romantic defiance face spirit revolution frightening much old guard europe second quarter th century lord eglinton announced public would welcome requested medieval fancy dress possible ticket free would applied expecting healthy turnout — eglinton race meeting generally got local audience — made arrangement grandstand guest comfortable seating expected crowd notified press time morning post court gazette important popular journal offer free ticket response returned across social spectrum reader bath figaro cornish guardian sheffield iris wisbech star east many newspaper — reader every county british isle — applied lord eglinton ticket month august letter came hundred castle eglinton requesting ticket party twenty fifty hundred people scrapbook nearly thousand letter still survives filled plea anecdote promise medieval dress assertion tory sympathy lord eglinton accepted challenge issued requested ticket planned vastly larger effort turnout two order magnitude greater expected final estimate crowd one hundred thousand area transportation lodging overwhelmed nearby town irvine one hotel private home able charge high price take tourist morning tournament road eglinton castle quickly jammed road ayr glasgow thirty mile long filled end end every approach blocked abandoned carriage owner continuing foot new railway ayr irvine opened public august charged thrice normal fee people fought ticket transport guaranteed deposit mile castle poor folk without lodging said spent first night beneath grandstand even hollow treetrunks one visitor travelled london took steam train london liverpool boarded paddle steamer packed people attending tournament deck heavily laden box armour lance horse participant landed ardrossan pier terminus horsedrawn ardrossan johnstone railway disembarking seized upon sort carriage plied upon coal train carried large assortment passenger drawn one horse set little town irvine dismounting thence changed time diver coach car turning romantic wooded road passed close lodge castle lord tourney looking round busy preparation returned irvine found lodging private house across street seagate castle next morning made way tournament tournament held near eglinton castle eight mile west coast scotland ayrshire imitation gothic thcentury georgian mansion battlement turret added event took place meadow holm loop lugton water ground chosen tournament low almost marshy grassy slope rising side knight horseback retinue reached tilt yard c map via enclosed ride g map whilst guest visitor made way stand via route marked f map illustrated group crossed three arched gothic eglinton tournament bridge map eglinton castle ground tilt yard show tilt yard already existence early date recorded fate tournament great parade knight supposed open tournament noon knight little practice mounting horse took long time get prepared knight entourage forty different group supposed ride castle pick lady officer knight return list one drive castle knight jostle back forth past arrangement parade control knightly gridlock took hour longer unfold planned elaborate rehearsal training st john wood prepared participant crowded already sodden condition day time parade ready half mile long three hour late opening parade comprised forty knight entourage ride castle picked lady officer knight returned list picturesque estate drive lined thousand spectator although day dawned clear fine knight entourage struggled organise parade sky began darken moment parade finally arranged — lady somerset queen beauty heralded trumpet — flash lightning great crash thunder black cloud ayrshire let loose sudden violent rainstorm lord eglinton immediately ordered lady carriage knight entourage soon soaked squall covered mud marched list parade route lined umbrella bearing audience tiltyard designed samuel luke pratt stand hold pratts grandstand roof work art splendid scarlet day rain new rainstorm freak severity started leak badly tournament lord eglinton appeared list apologised rain announced weather permitting would try joust next day next announced special guest grandstand medieval banquet ball evening would cancelled banqueting tent also succumbed weather rain flooded lugton water ran around list three side carriage could cross entire audience apart eglintons personal guest stranded without transportation walk mile rain mud nearby village first people found food drink accommodation transport next morning eglinton consulted participant tournament agreed hold second joust august estate staff set repairing damage site including attempting drain list mending grandstand weather final day tournament much better crowd gathered watch albeit fewer fancy dress procession took place followed jousting james fairlie point although eglington nominated symbolic victor edward jerningham suffered injury required medical attention melée held henry waterford john alford separated marshal although day went well heavy mud list continued cause knight difficulty formal ball concluded day commencing medieval banquet people dinner designed follow authentic medieval recipe served gold silver dish specially manufactured occasion ball guest medieval costume entertained orchestra band nd dragoon guard heavy rain returned towards end ball agreed call tournament close eglinton tournament became part english popular culture astleys amphitheatre london used promote medieval reenactment commercial success tournament parodied pantomime covent garden eglinton trophy eglinton testimonial gothic style one metre high silver centrepiece presented th earl eglinton friend admirer commemorate eglinton tournament panorama illustrated tournament using long strip painted canvas wound round tube slowly unwound give view event venue edinburgh tournament inspired successor event earl court london july armour used tournament preserved leeds armoury kelvingrove museum dean castle elsewhere family sold earl eglintons armour sale castle content remnant tournament sold public auction glass crystal used marquee medieval ball feast sold soon ship named eglinton partly constructed wood used jousting arena bow used tournament one cochranpatrick family ladyland house preserved kilwinning abbey tower museum bow made david muir kilwinning using degame wood otherwise known lemonwood flag flew castle bearing earl coat arm eventually donated north ayrshire council kept north ayrshire heritage centre gothic bridge site tournament actually built time tournament even previous bridge originally located yard river place least year time tournament label tournament bridge stuck despite inaccuracy contemporary engraving painting show however heavily embellished gothic addition event possibly ornamental archway th anniversary tournament staff newly opened eglinton country park organised reenactment ran period three day august year may east ayrshire council held exhibition entitled gothic adventure dick institute kilmarnock published book title eglinton trophy loaned earl eglinton north ayrshire council duration two medal produced commemorate exhibition display tournament tournament banquet ball banquet ball knight participated tournament apart eglinton john viscount alford aged knight black lion captain beresford aged knight stag head archibald earl cassillis aged knight dolphin william earl craven aged knight griffin captain ayrshire yeomanry james fairlie aged knight golden lion hon h e h gage aged knight ram george viscount glenlyon aged knight gael sir francis hopkins bart aged knight burning tower hon edward jerningham aged knight swan charles lamb aged knight white rose richard lechemere aged knight red rose walter little gilmour aged black knight henry marquess waterford aged knight dragon participant guest included cropley earl shaftesbury charles marquess londonderry prince louis napoleon princess esterhazy hungary count persigny france count lubeski poland brief audio report victoria albert museum eglinton tournament shield found skelmorlie castle attic