Old Photograph of Grindleford - Carnival Parade

This is not strictly speaking a Carnival Parade, as the procession was most likely in aid of a ‘Hospital Week’ when villagers would have enjoyed a week of celebrations whilst collections would be made for the local hospitals. Close-up examination of the float reveals that the lady on the cart is sitting up in a bed, beside which is a chair for her ‘hospital visitor’.

Alan wondered why the procession was going up Padley Hill, as it is a no-through-road, and with nowhere to turn round. We may never know the real reason, but one possibility might have been a request from a wealthy and prestigious resident for the parade to pass by her door, with the promise of a generous contribution to funds - a ‘Grace-and-Favour” visit.

Long skirts the ladies are wearing suggests a date of prior to 1920. Indeed the ladies' hats seem to be Edwardian in style. I don't know when Hospital Weeks began in Britain,^[1] but America celebrated its first Hospital Day on 12 May 1921.

This is one of several old postcards contributed to the ‘Grindleford Then and Now’ Exhibition in October 2004.

(Information provided by Rosemary Lockie)

References
[1] For accounts of Hospital Weeks elsewhere see
Market Lavington Museum - Hospital Week (mid 1930s), and
A History of Watton (Norfolk) - Grandad's Watton - The Carnival