The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

Year: 1953

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

I was about 3 years old when the present Queen was crowned. Us children went up to the manor house where they held a party outside. I remember someone with a cine camera filming the event. I have always wondered what became of that film which almost certainly showed me enjoying the party. I lived at the village post office and general store and knew everyone in the village as I used to serve in the shop from the age of about six. The post office and shop have long since gone and the vilage school has closed. They still have the village club but they never had any pubs. However, researching the village's history I have found out that Knapp Farm was origially a coaching inn called The old Knapp Inn. That closed in 1910. I used to play in that farm house with the farmer's daughter Kay Huxter. I was alway's puzzled as to why they had two separate staircases in that house and a bay window which had a built-in seat (just like in many pubs). It was only 50 years later I found out the coaching inn connection. There were postcards showing Wootton Fitzpaine in the 1950s. I don't have any but I did use to sell them in our shop, my parents commissioned a firm to print them.

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RE: The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

Dave,

Were you aware that a book documenting the history of Wootton Fitzpaine was recently printed by interested locals? It is filled with old photos and doubtless covers the coronation. My family now occupies the Manor and my parents were quite involved in the book research I believe. If you want to know more or would like to get a copy of the book I am sure they could help.