Library Item

Newton Street Coronation Party

1953

On Coronation Day, Tuesday June 2nd 1953, all over Edinburgh residential streets were decorated with balloons and bunting. The residents had spent the previous months raising money to fund street parties to celebrate the special day. The city centre was decorated with flowers and banners and buildings floodlit. For the 48 hours leading up to the day, there was a programme of events, such as a ball in the Assembly Rooms and a Youth Vigil Service.
Coronation Day was a holiday for almost all citizens, with bus and train services reduced and shops closed. There were no mail deliveries. As well as street parties, those lucky enough to own a television, organised parties in their homes to watch the pageantry.
Tables were set up in the streets and children wore paper hats and enjoyed entertainment and games such as pitching a lucky ball through the porthole of a model ship. Food consisted of cold ham and salad for the adults washed down with tea, while children enjoyed buns and cakes with lemonade. Singing and dancing went on for many hours.
The day concluded with spectacular firework displays and bonfires lit on the surrounding hills of the city.