VE Day Poster 1: The Town Hall
Archives & Heritage Officer Philip Jeffs looks back at VE Day posters in the archives…
Throughout the War the Town Hall had been the focus of wartime publicity. The outbreak of war had been announced from the Town Hall steps, the lawns had been home to a downed Messerschmitt, a myriad of fundraising campaigns and propaganda schemes had been run from the Town Hall Lawns. So it was only right that as the end of the war in Europe approached, people looked to the Town Hall.
Crowds at Town Hall during Visit of the King 1945
Downed Messerschmitt Displayed at Bank Park
By the beginning of May Warrington Town Council had already begun planning for the expected end of hostilities in Europe. On the evening of Monday 7th May they were informed that the next day VE Day would be announced.
As word got about the town celebrations began to break out that evening, but the official announcement was not made until 3.00pm on Tuesday 8th May.
At 3 o’clock the Mayor and his retinue gathered on the Town Hall Steps, Churchill’s speech was played over speakers after which the Mayor, Mr. Boulting, read the official proclamation declaring that the War in Europe was over.
Peace Proclamation being read from Town Hall Steps
With the formalities out of the way, it was time for the people of Warrington to have some fun!
Bank Park and the Town Hall gardens were lit up with electric light for the first time since the outbreak of War. Coloured fairy lights were strung through the trees, flood lights lit up the Town Hall, and an illuminated band stand was specially constructed to house a fashionable dance band.
Dancers packed so tightly on the Town Hall lawns that it was difficult to move. Fireworks were going off continuously amongst the crowd all evening, and the music, bright lights, and loud bangs went on into the early hours of the morning. The constant rain meant that dancers were sinking into the lawns and churning them to mud, making the dancing harder as the night drew on.
The celebrations were not limited to Bank Park, and whilst in Warrington it rained heavily for most of VE Day, the celebrations carried on regardless across the Town.
The Warrington Examiner reports that:
There seemed to be as many women in the streets as there were men, and members of the forces on leave, as well as American personnel joined in the fun, they did a jig in the streets, they joined hands and swept along with flags in their hands and streamers fluttering from their hats, and they threw fireworks at each other’s feet and roared with laughter.
The reporter adds that there was “much fraternising”.
Despite being described as “under the weather” with drink, the crowds were reported as largely well behaved, with special constables being needed more to clear a path through the crowds for passing vehicles than to maintain order. The highlight of the night for police was rescuing a cat trapped in the mud-banks of the Mersey at Bridge Foot whilst watched over by hundreds of revellers.
Americans and Brits celebrate in a Warrington Pub
During VE Day and VE Day Plus One, as the Borough referred to Wednesday 9th, masses of celebrations took place all across the town. To learn about some of the ways Warringtonians celebrated VE Day, including the iconic street parties, look at our next poster.