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The route of the procession

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Endeavouring to give the reader some idea of the nature of the route traversed by the Queen, we would recall the fact that the town stands on a long hill, and from the level of the Great Western rails to St. Peter's Churchyard, close to the statue is a height of no less than seventy five feet, whilst from the same level to the bottom of Darlington Street, right in front of the statue, and length which the procession had to climb, is a length of some five hundred yards.

The ascent is ninety feet. Hence, the Queen starting from the Low Level on the eastern side, had to wind upwards by a circuitous route until she entered Queen Street, then with a slight rise up Snow Hill had to go downwards to the bottom of Salop Street, to a lower level than that from which she started, and up thence to the statue, back down the High Green with a turn to the left down Cock Street, and by other right angles into Skinner Street, and School Street. 


The Low Level Station, the start of the route.

Thence straight for some three quarters of a mile, to the junction of the Stafford Road, and then up again to Queen Street, by Stafford Street, again to descend by Railway Street, and the Wednesfield Road to the Low Level Station. This may give an idea of the route of four miles. Along the whole length strong barricades were fixed about three feet high between the footpaths and the roadway. Where the width of the route would admit of it, as on Snow Hill and in one or two other wide streets, a considerable portion of the carriageway was left for the occupation of the public, and a moderate calculation gives spaces thus freely allotted to spectators, capable of holding a quarter of a million persons. In addition, upon every open space along the route, stands, platforms, and galleries were erected by the proprietors or by enterprising speculators who hoped, and did not hope in vain, to secure a large profit out of the public curiosity.


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