1919 Armistice Remembered

The Treaty of Versailles, which marked the official end of WW1 was signed on 28th June 1919. To celebrate this momentous occasion the Government ordered that 19th July should be a National Holiday. That prompted Matthew Liddell, known to all as “Squire”, who owned Stillington Hall, and his wife, to stage a tea party for the children of the village.

Over 60 children attended. Games were played on the front lawn followed by the singing of patriotic songs and the waving of flags. All the children were given a “mug of pop” and a sticky bun, then they posed for this historic photograph.

Stillington Community Archive Group decided to commemorate the centenary of this event by staging and exhibition of old photographs in the village hall and putting on a lunch followed by a group photograph on the village green. About 100 people attended. Stillington Hall, of course was demolished in the late ‘Sixties to make way for Parkfield housing estate….