Mercer’s & Orthopaedic Hospitals Bazaar, Dublin - pass medallion (1909)
The Mercer’s & Orthopaedic Hospital Bazaar was one of the major entertainment and fund-raising events in Dublin during the Edwardian era. This bazaar was organised by the Friend’s committee and governors of the Mercer and Incorporated Orthopaedic hospitals for the purpose of raising funds to help clear the £2,000+ debts incurred by the orthopaedic hospital as a result their second move to premises in Upper Merrion Street. This account in the Irish Independent of 3rd December 1908 has this to say “.....the orthopaedic hospital has had to move twice into larger premises. The adaptation of the fine house in Upr. Merrion Street to the needs of an hospital necessarily entailed great expense, and the Governors find themselves involved in a debt of over £2,000. It is to clear off this incumbrance that the governors of the orthopaedic hospital, joining with those of the Mercer’s, which is sadly in need of funds, have decided to organise a grand bazaar at Ballsbridge, next year”.
The plans for a bazaar were ambitious and with the patronage of Queen Alexandra, the main events would also be a focal point for high-society too. There were three separate fund-raising events organised. Firstly, there was a concert on February 9th 1909 in the Billiards Room of Pembroke House in Upper Mount Street with tickets costing 3 shillings each (1). Next, a Subscription Ball took place in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital on the 16th February 1909 and was deemed an “immense success” having had around 400 participants (2). The bazaar itself was a five-day event with numerous entertainments and stalls at the RDS Simmonscourt in Ballsbridge which took place during the final week of May 1909 (3). The Honorary Treasurer’s Report stated that an overall net profit of £5,896-2s-5d was made and this was distributed to both hospitals (4).
The opening event for the Ballsbridge bazaar at 3:30pm on Tuesday 25th May was presided over by the Lord Lieutenant (Earl of Aberdeen) and the Countess of Aberdeen (5). There were various musical theatre and music hall shows staged daily and the Dublin Metropolitan Police Band played there each afternoon. Numerous stalls representing every county of Ireland were selling a comprehensive range of goods from furniture, to pottery, to clothing, to confectionaries, etc. Catering was quite comprehensive too ranging from the famous Cafe Chantant, a dining hall, luncheon rooms, tea rooms and various light refreshments. Examples of additional entertainment and exhibits included the following (3):
• Fireworks displays arranged by Mark & Company.
• Championship sports events: cyclist races daily in the show-jumping enclosure, golf, croquette, rifle shooting, skittles.
• Physical Culture displays: Ju Jitsu, wrestling, Indian clubs, weight lifting.
• Helter Skelter, Toft’s Merry-go-Round, Zig-Zag slides.
• Palace Ballroom dances.
• Children’s fancy dress.
• Morris dancing.
• Puzzle garden (maze?)
• Pony and rickshaw rides.
• Flower shows, garden displays.
• Japanese city and Japanese gardens display in the Central Hall.
.
Nearly 50,000 people attended the bazaar according to turnstile tallies and a breakdown was given as follows (6):
Tuesday 25th - 6,447
Wednesday 26th - 7,989
Thursday 27th - 11,640
Friday 28th - 11,034
Saturday 29th - 12,275
.
This medallion would have been purchased originally as a pass ticket and allowed the wearer access to the bazaar’s events during all days at the RDS. The medallion shows the emblems of both hospitals: a hand for the Incorporated Orthopaedic and an allegory of the Good Samaritan with motto 'Fac Similiter' (Do Likewise) for the Mercer. Other text reads MERCER’S & ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITALS BAZAAR and the reverse side carries the manufacturer’s imprint.
.
Size (including the bale): 1 7/32" x 1 13/16" (31mm x 46mm).
Material(s): Brass metal.
Finish: Gilt.
Fitting: Bale.
Imprint: JEWELLERS CO. 86 GRAFTON ST.
Weight: 11.22g
.
References:
(1) Evening Herald, Friday 29th January 1909, p4
(2) Irish Independent, Wednesday 17th February 1909
(3) Freemans Journal, Wednesday 26th May 1909, p5 (a very comprehensive account of the bazaar’s entertainment)
(4) Freemans Journal, Thursday 27th January 1910, p5
(5) Evening Herald, Saturday 22nd May 1909
(6) Evening Herald, Thursday 3rd June 1909, p3
Mercer’s & Orthopaedic Hospitals Bazaar, Dublin - pass medallion (1909)
The Mercer’s & Orthopaedic Hospital Bazaar was one of the major entertainment and fund-raising events in Dublin during the Edwardian era. This bazaar was organised by the Friend’s committee and governors of the Mercer and Incorporated Orthopaedic hospitals for the purpose of raising funds to help clear the £2,000+ debts incurred by the orthopaedic hospital as a result their second move to premises in Upper Merrion Street. This account in the Irish Independent of 3rd December 1908 has this to say “.....the orthopaedic hospital has had to move twice into larger premises. The adaptation of the fine house in Upr. Merrion Street to the needs of an hospital necessarily entailed great expense, and the Governors find themselves involved in a debt of over £2,000. It is to clear off this incumbrance that the governors of the orthopaedic hospital, joining with those of the Mercer’s, which is sadly in need of funds, have decided to organise a grand bazaar at Ballsbridge, next year”.
The plans for a bazaar were ambitious and with the patronage of Queen Alexandra, the main events would also be a focal point for high-society too. There were three separate fund-raising events organised. Firstly, there was a concert on February 9th 1909 in the Billiards Room of Pembroke House in Upper Mount Street with tickets costing 3 shillings each (1). Next, a Subscription Ball took place in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital on the 16th February 1909 and was deemed an “immense success” having had around 400 participants (2). The bazaar itself was a five-day event with numerous entertainments and stalls at the RDS Simmonscourt in Ballsbridge which took place during the final week of May 1909 (3). The Honorary Treasurer’s Report stated that an overall net profit of £5,896-2s-5d was made and this was distributed to both hospitals (4).
The opening event for the Ballsbridge bazaar at 3:30pm on Tuesday 25th May was presided over by the Lord Lieutenant (Earl of Aberdeen) and the Countess of Aberdeen (5). There were various musical theatre and music hall shows staged daily and the Dublin Metropolitan Police Band played there each afternoon. Numerous stalls representing every county of Ireland were selling a comprehensive range of goods from furniture, to pottery, to clothing, to confectionaries, etc. Catering was quite comprehensive too ranging from the famous Cafe Chantant, a dining hall, luncheon rooms, tea rooms and various light refreshments. Examples of additional entertainment and exhibits included the following (3):
• Fireworks displays arranged by Mark & Company.
• Championship sports events: cyclist races daily in the show-jumping enclosure, golf, croquette, rifle shooting, skittles.
• Physical Culture displays: Ju Jitsu, wrestling, Indian clubs, weight lifting.
• Helter Skelter, Toft’s Merry-go-Round, Zig-Zag slides.
• Palace Ballroom dances.
• Children’s fancy dress.
• Morris dancing.
• Puzzle garden (maze?)
• Pony and rickshaw rides.
• Flower shows, garden displays.
• Japanese city and Japanese gardens display in the Central Hall.
.
Nearly 50,000 people attended the bazaar according to turnstile tallies and a breakdown was given as follows (6):
Tuesday 25th - 6,447
Wednesday 26th - 7,989
Thursday 27th - 11,640
Friday 28th - 11,034
Saturday 29th - 12,275
.
This medallion would have been purchased originally as a pass ticket and allowed the wearer access to the bazaar’s events during all days at the RDS. The medallion shows the emblems of both hospitals: a hand for the Incorporated Orthopaedic and an allegory of the Good Samaritan with motto 'Fac Similiter' (Do Likewise) for the Mercer. Other text reads MERCER’S & ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITALS BAZAAR and the reverse side carries the manufacturer’s imprint.
.
Size (including the bale): 1 7/32" x 1 13/16" (31mm x 46mm).
Material(s): Brass metal.
Finish: Gilt.
Fitting: Bale.
Imprint: JEWELLERS CO. 86 GRAFTON ST.
Weight: 11.22g
.
References:
(1) Evening Herald, Friday 29th January 1909, p4
(2) Irish Independent, Wednesday 17th February 1909
(3) Freemans Journal, Wednesday 26th May 1909, p5 (a very comprehensive account of the bazaar’s entertainment)
(4) Freemans Journal, Thursday 27th January 1910, p5
(5) Evening Herald, Saturday 22nd May 1909
(6) Evening Herald, Thursday 3rd June 1909, p3