E - The Festival of Britain Alphabet

The Festival of Britain was a major post-war celebration of the country and a beacon of hope for a better and brighter future. The main site at the South Bank in London was opened on 4 May 1951. However towns, cities and villages across the United Kingdom were encouraged to put on their own celebrations. This blog celebrates the quirkiness of the Festival of Britain away from the main London venues. It is by no means comprehensive as it only draws from my collection of Festival of Britain memorabilia. Each week over the course of the main festival period I will attempt to go through the alphabet. If you want to find out more about the Festival of Britain you may like to become a member of the Festival of Britain Society www.fobsociety.co.uk.

E is for...

...Elstow, a village to the south of Bedford. The county council made the decision to invest in some more permanent celebrations of the Festival of Britain. The activities chosen included a series of village signs with the Festival of Britain logo (many of which can still be seen today - Festival of Britain village signs | Facebook), tree planting, the renovation of Stevington windmill, and the commissioning of a coat of arms for the council. In Elstow, the council undertook the restoration of the Moot Hall.

The Elstow document sets out the order of proceedings for the re-opening of the Moot Hall on 31 May 1951.

 

The Moot Hall, which has also been known as the Green House and the Market House, dates back to the 14^th or 15^th century. It was built as a market house for Elstow Abbey, hence the alternative name, and now serves as a museum. Moot Hall – Elstow Abbey

The brochure also includes a history of the village, with pictures of local buildings (the Moot Hall amongst them of course) and landmarks.

 

It is also the catalogue for an exhibition:

E is also for Eisteddfod, or more accurately the International Musical Eisteddfod. This event had started four years earlier in 1947, but was one of the existing events co-opted on to the Festival of Britain programme.

The event is still running today, with “79 years of promoting international harmony and reconciliation through music dance Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod - Home This year’s event runs from 7 to 12 July.