Place Name
Takes its name from Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, celebrated on June 22, 1897 to mark the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne. The celebrations took place at the height of the British Empire, so had a strong imperial focus. The centrepiece of the jubilee was a grand procession through London, featuring troops from across the empire, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and various African colonies, reflecting Britain’s vast global influence. Queen Victoria, by this time aged 78 and largely unable to walk, rode in an open carriage instead of a horse-drawn state coach. The procession made its way from Buckingham Palace to St. Paul’s Cathedral, where a thanksgiving service was held outside on the steps so that the Queen would not have to disembark. Large crowds gathered along the route, and celebrations took place across Britain, Ireland, and the empire. The day was declared a public holiday in Britain and its territories, reinforcing the sense of imperial unity. As part of the commemorations, Queen Victoria issued a message to her people, expressing gratitude for their loyalty and affection over her long reign. The jubilee was marked by numerous events beyond the official state celebrations. In London, the streets were decorated with illuminations, and large-scale feasts were organised for the poor. Bizarrely however, this road was not contemporary with those celebrations, it came much much later. It was built shortly before and even during the Second World War, as part of the Victoria Park estate in South Ruislip. Remarkable given Victoria’s long reign that the namers chose to concentrate on so narrow a period.
