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| Postcards
were included in the Queensway Tunnel memorabilia |
On
the 18th July 1934, over 200,000 people gathered at the Old Haymarket
to watch King George V and Queen Mary, officially open the Queensway
tunnel.
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The
opening of the Queensway Tunnel - 18th July 1934
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Amongst
those chosen to welcome the Royal party were Lord Mayor Councillor
John Strong, Sir Thomas White, Chair of the Joint Tunnel Committee,
Lord Sefton and Chief Constable A.K. Wilson. Liverpool City Police
Band provided the
music.
At
11.45 the Royal party arrived.
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"......I
thank all those who have achieved this miracle. I praise the
imagination that foresaw, the minds that planned, the skill
that fashioned, the will that drove, and the strong arms that
endeavoured in the bringing of this work to completion.
May
those who use it ever keep grateful thoughts of the many who
struggled for long months against mud and darkness.
His
Majesty King George V
18th July 1934
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As
the national anthem played and the curtains began to rise, few were
aware that the electrical mechanism had failed and instead two men
were stationed either side, raising the curtains with hand cranks.
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| Carved
stone feature, Old Haymarket entrance |
The
Royal car led the way through the tunnel to Birkenhead, where three
miles of crowds awaited their arrival, clambering on roof tops and
hanging on to chimneys to obtain a better viewpoint.
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| 60ft
lighting column, designed by Herbert Rouse |
On
arrival, the Royal Party was introduced to Birkenhead's oldest inhabitant,
102 year old Sammual Gillingham. The party then went on to officially
open Central Library on Borough Road, replacing the old library,
demolished to make way for the tunnel entrance.
In
the days that followed, the tunnel turned into something of a tourist
attraction, with crowds watching the steady flow of traffic travelling
between Liverpool and Birkenhead.
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