211. Weavers’ Upper Bailiff’s Consort Luncheon Party preceded by a Tour of Hyde Park Barracks, 12 June 2024

Jackie Bagley, Consort to the Upper Bailiff of the Worshipful Company of Weavers, very kindly invited a small group of consorts to accompany her on a tour of the Hyde Park Barracks in Knightsbridge.  The barracks house officers and soldiers (and horses) of the Household Cavalry, which comprises the Blues and Royals and the Lifeguards.  This visit was organised by courtesy of James Gaselee, Clerk to the Weavers, who is Colonel-in-Chief to the Lifeguards; the Colonel of the Blues and Royals is the Princess Royal.

We arrived in time for the inspection of the Blues & Royals prior to their parading out to replace the Lifeguards at Horseguards Parade.  They were an impressive sight.  They formally received the standard before trotting out on duty, just as they would have done when going to war, preceded by a trumpet call.  Trumpeters are not necessarily musicians when they join the Army; they tend to learn on the job.  The soldiers’ horses are black; trumpeters’ are greys.  The horses are generally Irish draughts (“with a bit of thoroughbred thrown in”), about five years old when arriving in the regiment, and remain for about ten years.  These horses need to have very strong mouths as they have a double bit which means soldiers can control them with just a light touch with their left hand, their right is for their sword.  Soldiers tend to ride for about three hours each day, but cleaning the kit takes about seven!  There is a constant cycle of duties.  There are currently 12 officers, with one woman, whom we met – Captain Lizzie.

Lizzie had been in the Army for five years, and with the regiment for two, having joined shortly before the Queen’s death and thus was plunged straight into preparations for the royal funeral.

We repaired to the Officers’ Mess for a welcome coffee.  The room was very traditional, with leather sofas and chairs, a lovely wooden sideboard, and portraits of former soldiers lining the walls, and a picture window looking towards Hyde Park.  The building itself, however, is controversial, having been designed by Sir Basil Spence, completed in 1970, and referred to as the ugliest building in London.  The aim was to signify architecturally strong men on strong horses.  The result is a brutalist concrete tower block, but Capt Lizzie assured us that the rooms were very comfortable and represented good value in London.

We were able to visit the stables.  Regimental horses tend to be at least 16 hands high, which seemed quite large!  They were beautiful animals, quite friendly. 

One was being hosed down, another was having his mane plaited.

Lizzie then took us round the workshops, beginning with the forge.  There are 14 farriers, seven of whom are apprentices.  They have to learn how to make many different types of horseshoe, some quite complex.  As there are not enough people to be able to make shoes for all horses, they tend to buy in bulk and customise them to each horse.

Next was the saddlery.  Charlotte, Consort to the Master Saddler, was very pleased to meet the Master Saddler, a Court-Major!  He told us of the three stages of making a saddle.  His workshop was responsible for most items in a cavalryman’s uniform, apart from the plume on the helmet.  Even the helmet and cuirass both had leather linings.

Finally we reached the uniform store, surprisingly the most secure area of the complex.  Each full (officer’s) uniform or kit is worth £35,000.  The main reason for the security however was the pair of silver drums, cast in 1828, made from silver looted from the White House during the American War of Independence.  These are absolutely priceless and are used at formal events such as the Trooping of the Colour, which was due to take place in three days’ time.  These two drums weigh 50lb and 55lb; horses must have very strong backs to be able to take this combined weight (plus the drummer, of course).

We had fun trying on the helmets and cuirass.  Apparently these are difficult to keep on while bouncing up and down on horseback, and soldiers often pull strange faces in an effort to keep the chin strap in the correct position.

And thus our fascinating visit came to an end. 

We were led outside to two waiting taxis which took us on to Saddlers’ House, the home of the Weavers.

We were served Pimms and hors d’oeuvres on the terrace before a very relaxed and tasty meal in the quite intimate dining room.

What a wonderful day out.  Very many thanks to Jackie, James and the Worshipful Company of Weavers for their generosity in organising this trip.