hotel-xenia
  • STAY SAFE – COVID19 RESPONSE
  • STAY
    • Breaks
      • Winter Breaks
      • Rebound Weekend Break 2021
      • Family Breaks
      • Garden Breaks
      • Golfing Breaks
      • Shooting Breaks
      • Walking Breaks
    • Dog Friendly
    • Facilities
    • Reviews
  • EAT
    • The Brasserie
    • Afternoon Tea
    • Deli Delivery
    • A Hotel With Provenance
    • Exmoor Food Fest 2021
      • Exmoor Food Feast 2021
  • RELAX
    • Treatments
    • Pamper Packages
  • EVENTS
    • Weddings
      • Intimate Weddings
    • Celebrations
      • Christenings
      • Birthdays
      • Private Dining
      • Anniversaries
      • Funerals
      • Formal Dining
    • BUSINESS
      • Michelin Package
      • Engage Package
      • Refresh Package
      • COVID-19 Guidance
  • BLOG
    • OFFERS
  • CONTACT
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
Gifts Book

victorian week

  • You are here:
  • Home/
  • The Blog/
  • victorian week
Holiday Like a Victorian in Ilfracombe!
10th May 2019

Holiday Like a Victorian in Ilfracombe!

By Emily on News, Uncategorised

The Victorians gave us many things – the ‘British’ bulldog, a sense of Empire, rules and manners… While these pillars of the Victorian age seem antiquated now, there is one institution, inspired by the time of Queen Victoria, whose influence can still be felt today.

It was the Victorians that gave us Brits our tradition of escaping to the seaside, thanks to the Nineteenth century invention of railways and steam ships which brought the possibility of cross country travel to ordinary folk.

The pretty town of Ilfracombe in North Devon owes much of its present to the Victorians, who popularised this quiet fishing village on the North Devon coast as a go to seaside destination. Evidence of this bustling era in its history can be seen today as a stroll around the town reveals many buildings which were built at the time.

Ilfracombe is home to the Grand Victorian and Steampunk Festival  which takes place every year (15th – 23rd June in 2019). The town is also home to theCarlton Hotel, itself a Victorian building (although extensively refurbished in recent years to shine with a 21st century dash of first class) and the perfect base for a historical breakin North Devon.

Throughout the nineteenth century, a seaside scene developed in the UK, one crystallised in the words of the 1907 music hall song by John A. Glover-Kind, a rendition of which is as ubiquitous as calls of ‘Are we there yet?’ on many a holiday car journey to the coast:
Oh I do like to be beside the seaside, I do like to be beside the sea,
I do like to stroll along the prom, prom, prom, Where the brass bands play tiddly-on-pom-pom!

Modesty is a quality often associated with the Victorians. In the Nineteenth century, Victorian ladies decamped from their bathing machines (or swam from designated ladies’ beaches), dressed in an attire much resembling the Burkini of today. Men folk, on the other hand would parade their wares al fresco – hence the need for a separate beach – and Ilfracombe’s Tunnels, which are a popular attraction today, tell this tale of Victorian bathing habits!

What is the Grand Victorian and Steampunk Festival?

Ilfracombe has celebrated its Victorian past for many years with an annual celebration, which involves parades and ‘tea with the Queen’ with music playing from the bandstand in the quaint Runnymede Gardens. Dressing up as one’s favourite Victorian character was very much the order of the day for Victorian Week and it is a town tradition that has been much cherished over time by locals and visitors,enjoying a historical break,alike.

In recent years the tradition has received a breath of fresh air with a new generation of Victorian enthusiasts who are mixing history with a healthy pinch of fantasy, represented by the influx of Steampunk fans.

Now the events of Victorian week combine the historical and the fictional with activities that include teapot racing, ghost walks, parasol duelling, a Masked and Time travellers ball, tea parties on the lawn, art competitions and a lot of period dressing up!Of course fancy dress is not obligatory and any out of town visitors, down for a historical break in North Devon, just enjoy the spectacle!

With a reputation for being quirky and fun for all the family, the latest incarnation of this Ilfracombe tradition takes place just a stroll from the Carlton Hotel (meaning all the fun you can have in a starched shirt – or full petticoat -can be succeeded by a luxurious night of dinner, bed and breakfasting before starting all over).

Steampunk Holiday Destination

The Ilfracombe event has become something of a Steampunk holidaydestination in recent years  and it’s certainly a scene that has been growing – helped in part by movies such as The League of Extraordinary gentlemen, The City of Lost Children, The Three Musketeers (circa 2011) and the Guy Ritchie revamp of Sherlock Holmes.

Steampunk supposedly began as a joke term somewhere in the early Noughties, used to describe a specific genre of science fiction which celebrated the fantastical potential of the future within the nostalgia of the past (it has also been called ‘retro-futuristic’).

The Huffington Post talks of ‘retro pimping’, with old fashioned materials such as copper, brass, glass and mechanical workings as being characteristicsof the Steampunk movement and it has been credited with awakening an interest in the Victorian era amongst younger generations.

Not to be taken too seriously, the DIY ethos of Steampunk dressing up is nevertheless seriously good fun,so why not do something different this yearand head off to North Devon for a Steampunk holiday?

Contact the Carlton Hotel to book a historical break during Victorian Week or fuel your Steampunk holiday with a little bit of luxury, contact us on 01271 862446 or email enquiries@ilfracombecarlton.co.uk.

Read More
Celebrate Victorian Week
31st May 2016

Celebrate Victorian Week

By Eliot Wren on Events

Ilfracombe Victorian Week

The Victorian Era is a fascinating subject. From modern-day corsets to steampunk fashion, the Victorian Era has inspired a menagerie of reclaimed objects and clothing couture. It’s very magical to those of us living in the 21st century. England’s proud Victorian history is being celebrated in Ilfracombe from June 11-19, 2016 at the Grand Victorian & Steampunk Festival and Gala Weekend. Come visit Ilfracombe for their annual Victorian Week and take a step back in time!

Steampunk is a recent trend inspired by technology, movement and creativity to the backdrop of the Victorian era, modern technologies are re-imagined and realised as elaborate works of art, mechanics and of course, fashion. If Jules Verne or H.G. Wells were alive and writing their science fiction today, it would be considered “steampunk.”

Ilfracombe Victorian Week: Celebrating An Era

 Victorian Ilfracombe

The Victorian era was named after Queen Victoria (of course!) and spanned 1837 to 1901. Queen Victoria was loved by many, and many famous English authors emerged during the time of her reign, including Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, both equally famous in their own right. The Victorian era is when Ilfracombe was in its prime as a seaside getaway. Most of the buildings in Ilfracombe were built in the Victorian era, something that can easily be seen in the superb architecture.

Victorian Week 2016 Festivities

 

There’s loads going on for Ilfracombe’s Victorian Week, but we’ve gathered a few of the highlights to get you started.

The Grand Opening Ceremony

 Runnymede Gardens

Runnymede Gardens will be host to the Grand Opening Ceremony at 4pm for Victorian Week in Ilfracombe. The Mayor will be there, along with Charles Dickens himself who will be present throughout the week to join in on the festivities. The Mayor’s Tea Party will be held right afterwards, along with the Beatrix Potter & Steampunk Art Competition Awards.

The Grand Promenade

 

June 12th is a very special day indeed! Victorian Week and the people of Ilfracombe will be celebrating Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday, and a celebratory toast will be held in the early afternoon, but that’s not the only high point of the day. Queen Victoria will be joining Ilfracombe in the Grand Promenade, after which there will be a group photograph of everyone in their Victorian wear.

Those attending are welcome to wear either classic Victorian or steampunk costumes in honour of Victorian Week. The election of Mr. and Mrs. Ilfracombe will take place around 12:30pm. If you’re not too tired after that, you can pop on by the Lala Voices concert on the Landmark Green.

Boots & Saddles

The famous gunfight at the OK Corral will be re-enacted before your very eyes. Although the story of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday finds its roots in the annals of American history, it was a very historic moment in Victorian history as well. You can watch the gunfight on Celebration Lawn by the seafront. Not only will the views be spectacular, but the entire display will be historically accurate – right down to the boots.

Open Air Film Night

If you fancy learning more about the Victorian Era, and you love the great outdoors, you can attend the Open Air Film Night at Celebration Circle. You’ll be under a blanket of stars as you watch an award-winning documentary presented by Rhys Edwards. All ages are welcome to attend – make sure to bring popcorn!

Notourious

Everyone loves a good ghost story, especially in the dark of night. Notourious is a ghost tour that takes you on a fright night walk by the seaside. Old tales include those of murder, crime and the people who committed them. Some are gruesome, while others are simply mysterious. The walk will begin at the Ilfracombe Museum and is hosted by tour guide Susan Pengelly. Prepare to be spooked as you learn the sordid history of Ilfracombe after nightfall.

Grand Firework Display

 

As Ilfracombe Victorian Week comes to a close, the bursting blooms of fireworks will light up the sky at the Grand Firework Display. The show starts at 10:15pm, and a fire show will be held afterward on the beach for those who want to stay up a little later. If you think that’s the end of the festivities, however, you’d be wrong! Sunday, June 19th is Steampunk Day! Bring your best steampunk costume and see Steampunk Alice, a new spin on the classic novel and play by Lewis Carroll.

To enjoy Victorian Week to its fullest, you’ll need first class accommodations to get rested up for each day. Celebrate Victorian Week June 11-19, 2016 with the Ilfracombe Carlton. If you’re staying with us during Victorian week and you dress up in costume, you can enjoy a free dinner at the hotel.
Terms apply – call 01271 862446 for more information.

Read More

Recent Posts

  • Brasserie Brings Something Special To Exmoor Food Fest 2021
  • Discover the Warmth of a North Devon Winter Break
  • Autumn and Winter Wedding Offer: Embrace the Intimate!
  • Ten things to do on a rainy day at The Carlton
  • North Devon Autumn Breaks For Walkers and ‘Walkies’!

Categories

  • Business
  • Clay Pigeon Shooting
  • Events
  • Local Area
  • News
  • Offers
  • The Hotel
  • Uncategorised

Archives


Address & Contact Details

The Carlton Hotel, Runnacleave Road, Ilfracombe, Devon, EX34 8AR

Tel: 01271 862446

Follow Us For Updates & Offers!

  • Join us on Facebook
  • Join us on Twitter
  • Join us on Instagram

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news updates and offers from our team.

 

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Copyright 2017, The Carlton Hotel.
Image
Crafted and developed by The IRFC Studio

search

We use cookies to give you the best possible online experience. If you continue, we’ll assume you are happy for your web browser to receive all cookies from our website. Find out more.