The Story of Devizes Carnival
Picture of Dessie
Picture showing Mary Neate winning the pancake race in 1956
Flipping Brilliant! Mary Neate wins the Carnival Pancake Race, 1955
 

On the next few pages there is a chance to discover more about Devizes Carnival's colourful - if not erratic - history.

We've included some photographs, one showing the Wadworth float, which we think was entered in the very first Carnival procession in 1912.

There is also an opportunity to read David Buxton's history of Devizes Carnival in more detail, in a special text only version, on which the following pages are based.

Like many carnivals in Britain the carnival in Devizes began as a fund raising event for the local hospital.

The forerunner to the first carnival in Devizes was the Hospital Sunday procession held each year on the first Sunday in September.

This involved members of the town's many Friendly Societies, members of which (all men) paraded with their banners and a band to St Johns church for a special service.

A collection was made during the procession and the service which was donated to the hospital.

Continue the history trail

 
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