FROM THE VIDEO ARCHIVE: QUEEN VICTORIA'S 1851 WORSLEY VISIT DEBUNKED

Glen dispels several myths about her visit, a popular one being that she alighted from the Royal barge at the Packet House steps. It's not true, Queen Victoria's landing place in Salford was actually past the present road bridge where a special ornate canopy had been erected for her. 

It is fascinating to hear Glen's stories and anecdotes about the truth behind the visit. 

Have you heard the tale of how several horses - who were pulling the barge from Patricroft - startled by the cheering crowds and fell into the water, also the unfortunate fate that befell the Duke of Wellington as he gallantly attempted to help the Queen ashore. 

Did you know that Nasymth the inventor of the Steam Hammer who had his engineering works in Patricroft was also a keen astronomer and had actually taken photographs of the moon? 

James Naysmyth was wealthy engineer who was summoned to Worsley New Hall by the Queen who too had an interest in astonomy, she wished to see his drawings and photographs. 

Nasmyth had a lifelong interest in astronomy and constructed a 20-inch reflecting telescope in the grounds of his home in Patricroft in Manchester. 

He used the telescope to observe the Moon's surface and make drawings, calculating the height of lunar features by the length of their shadows. 

The resulting photographs produced better results than could be achieved at the time by direct lunar photography. Nasmyth photographed a whole series of his lunar models which were used to illustrate a book, The Moon, that he published with James Carpenter in 1871. 

Were you aware that during Victoria's state visit over 150 years ago - at great expense, no less - the exterior of Worsley Old Hall was illuminated with electricity, and the glow could be seen all the way over in Eccles? Not much nowadays, but in a time when none of the surrounding houses had electricity at all, it must have been an astounding sight. 

This article first appeared on SalfordOnline on the 20th of August 2010, it is lovingly re published here courtesy of the Queens loyal reject subject, Tony Flynn.

Video by young Tom Rodgers.

Many thanks to Glen Atkinson.