(Transcription) Royal Cornwall Gazette • 28 Oct 1881, page 6

RECEPTION OF THE EARL & COUNTESS OF ST. GERMANS AT PORT ELIOT.

The Earl and Countess of St. Germans, who were married at the Chapel Royal, Savoy, last week, arrived on Saturday evening at Port Eliot, St. Germans, the Cornish seat of the Earl of St. Germans. They reached there by the "Dutchman" about half past six in the evening, having travelled from the residence of her ladyship's sister, the Hon. Mrs. Stanley, Quantock Lodge, Somersetshire. Great preparations had been made to receive them. The little station of St. Germans, at which they alighted, is generally kept very neatly and cleanly by the stationmaster, but it has just been repainted throughout by the company and by the help of a profusion of flags looked quite gay by daylight. A little beyond the station a triumphal arch was erected inscribed on one side "Welcome to St. Germans," and on the other "Health and happiness." The railway arch under which the carriage had to pass was decorated with flowers, and would have been illuminated with Chinese lanterns, but for the high winds which prevailed. Passing into the village, just at the junction of the road with the way to the up platform of the station, and near the vicarage, was another arch of evergreens with the Eliot crest on one side and the Cornish arms on the other, both being beautifully painted by Mrs. Jenkin, of Tideford. At the main Lodge and entrance to the park there was an arch inscribed, "Welcome to Port Eliot," in very large letters. This arch was also successfully hung with Chinese lanterns and at the entrance to the gardener's door there was the word "Welcome." All the inscriptions on the arches were very effectively lighted. As the time for the arrival of the train drew on a great concourse of people from St. Germans and the neighbouring village collected around the station. The St. Germans brass band, under Mr. F. S. Hawke, were on the up platform, and the ringers were in the belfry awaiting the sound of the approaching train. "The Dutchman" arrived in due time, and according to arrangement stopped at St. Germans. As the Earl and his bride alighted the band played and the bells ran, and the crowd sent up cheer after cheer. Then torches were lighted — there were sixty torch-bearers in all — coloured fire shone out at intervals along the road, and amid general manifestations of welcome, men took the place of the horses, and drew the Earl and his Countess to their home. Fortunately the weather, which had been very wet as well as windy, cleared for a short time, and the torches and coloured fires, the cheering crowd, and the liveried coachman and footman on the box of the man-drawn carriage made a very picturesque scene. In the village nearly every window in every house or cottage was lighted with Chinese Lanterns, candles, and lamps. On arriving at Port Eliot the carriage was drawn up to the main entrance under the portico, and his lordship and her ladyship gracefully bowed to the crowd and then alighted. The hall into which they entered was splendidly lighted up and decorated for the occasion, Mr. Know, the gardener, having brought some of his choicest plants for the purpose. The men-servants, headed by Mr. Cross, the butler, and the women-servants, headed by Mrs. Davis, the housekeeper, lined the hall, and as her ladyship entered they gave her a hearty welcome. Afterwards there was dinner in the dining-room, which was gaily decorated for the occasion, and the Earl and Countess will occupy the apartments prepared for the recent visit of the Princess Frederica. After the carriage was drawn away the school children sang and the band played, and there was a display of fireworks. Coloured fires were also burnt at different points on the hills surrounding the estate. The grand old Norman doorway and towers of the parish church which stand near the house presented a very striking appearance. After the band stopped his Lordship came out, and said he wished heartily to thank the people for the kind reception they had given himself and his wife that evening. No doubt, he said, many of them knew his mother's good qualities – (cheers). He believed they would fine the same good qualities in his wife – (loud cheers). His lordship then again thanked them, and wished them "Good night." The following was the programme of music played by the band or sung by the children: – Wedding March, "Midsummer Night's Dream" (Mendelssohn); "Welcome Home the Bride" (Danish air); "The Bride" (the music and part of the words adapted from A.C. Mackenzie's cantata); "Home, Sweet Home." Mr. F.S. Hawke conducted the singing.

The committee who preparted this reception was Mr. Bedford Kerswill (chairman), Mr. Gill, Messrs Thomas Geakde, W. Brenton, Jago, T.H. Geake, jun., F.S. Hawke, John Hawke, George Brenton, J. Couch, R. Polgreen, Knox, Thomas Brenton, Walter Blight, S. Hancock, and J. Salter. Messrs Brenton and Kerswill managed the torches and fireworks, which were manufactured by Pain, of London, and supplied by their Plymouth agents, Messrs Brunell and Co. Messrs Hancock, Thomas Brenton, Jago, and Geake were the arch committee. At the wedding the tenants presented a silver salver; but a valuable set of china, given by the earl's workmen, and at which he expressed particular pleasure, was not mentioned in the account of the wedding. A very handsome church service, silver-mounted and illuminated, was presented to the Countess of St. Germans on arrival at Port Eliot on Saturday evening by the teachers and scholars of the girls' school. The presentation was made by the schoolmistress.