Kate Pragnell. The Chelsea Pageant (1908)

  • Kate Pragnell was born in Newport, Isle of Wight, in 1853. An artist and photographer, she lived in Chelsea at...

    Kate Pragnell was born in Newport, Isle of Wight, in 1853. An artist and photographer, she lived in Chelsea at 39 Brompton Square.  
    In the early Twentieth Century, especially before the First World War, across England there was a passion for local, historical pageants. One of those that led the way was held in Chelsea in 1908.The Chelsea Historical Pageant was held in the Old Ranelagh Gardens, Royal Hospital. It took place between 25th June and 1st July 1908. Kate Pragnell was commissioned to photograph the event and produced limited numbers of postcards of each episode as well as portraits of most of the historical characters.  

    The pageant consisted of ten episodes:
    1. The Romans cross the Thames at Chelsea in 53BC
    2. The Synod of Chelsea in AD 786
    3. May Day in Chelsea Fields 1500
    4. Part 1. Sir Thomas More Visited by Henry VIII and his family; drawn by Holbein in 1547
    5. Part 2. Sir Thomas More's Farewell to Chelsea in 1534
    6. The Princess Elizabeth and Lady Jane Grey at the Manor House in 1547

    7. Funeral of Anne of Cleves from Chelsea Manor House in 1557
    8. Queen Elizabeth at Lord Howard of Effingham's Chelsea in 1592
    9. Children's Masque of Spencers Faerie Queen. The Founding of Chelsea Hospital by Charles II 1681
    10. The Institution of Doggett's Coat and Badge in 1714
    11. Royal Fête at Ranelagh Gardens in 1749/ Minuet of Chelsea China Figures, 1749

  • The Pageant included over forty characters. These include:
    The Blue Druid; Julius Caesar; Cassivelaunus; Roman Officer; Herald Bard; British Women and Children; Offa, King of Mercia; Saxon Soldier; Papal Legate (Theophylact of Todi); Saxon Noble; The Grey Nuns; Sir Reginald de Bray; Minstrel and Citizen; Galliarde Dancers; Dargason Dancers; Gypsy Dancer; King Henry VIII; Margaret Roper; Cecily (Cis) Heron & Bess More; William Patteson; Queen Katharine Parr; Princess Elizabeth; King Edward VI; Ling of Arms and a Mourner; Priest at the Funeral of Anne of Cleves; Queen Elizabeth; Lord Howard of Effingham; Edmund Spenser; Lady Mary Howard; Gloriana; St George, Una & Lion; Lucifera Queen of Pride; Chelsea Reach boy and girl; Old Soldier; Charles II ; Nell Gwyn; Duchess of Cleveland; Duke of Buckingham; Sir Hans Sloane; The Duchess of Ormonde; Joseph Addison and Sir Richard Steele; Court; Lady of the Period; Dr. Johnson; George II; A Masquerader; Chelsea China Figure; J. H. Irvine, Esq. - Master of the Chelsea Pageant.