I’d be interested to know more about the history of the picnic areas in the New Territories and from what date it became a habitual practice for European families to make excursions there with their children. A photo (unfortunately not in my possession), of my father aged 4 or 5, (the date would be 1913 or 1914) on an excursion shows him with his cousins in the company of European ladies in wide-brimmed hats. Everyone looks very hot. I wonder if other photos exist of pre-WW1 family excursions like this to the New Territories. I'd also be interested to read accounts of such picnics around this time if anyone knows of any.
By typing in "picnic" in the search function for old newspapers in the HKPL, one may glean at the excursions that were made. From 1900 to 1915, launch picnics were popuiar and were made to Cheung Chau, Lamma Island, Junk Bay, Clearwater Bay and Lai Chi Kok Bay. From 1916 onwards, clubs and organizations used the train service for picnics in Sha Tin and Fanling. I guess with the availability of the early roads in the NT such as the Castle Peak and Tai Po Roads at the turn of the last centruy and motor cars becoming subequently popular, picnic enthusiasts would have had the opportunity to drive to their favourite picnic spots.
I've typed in "picnic" as you advised, moddsey. For the period that I'm interested in, I randomly picked out 19th March 1916 from the Daily Press and 2nd August 1910 from the China Mail, both of which were church-organised picnics. For 1916 the entry reads: "A picnic in connection with St Peter's Church has been arranged for Easter Monday next, the destination being Shatin." Two 1910 entries on the same page mention the August Bank Holiday Monday when many launch picnics took place. The longer entry describes "the old established run by the Wesleyan Church at Wanchai." The destination in this case was the old temple at Tai Mu for which two launches were required. "The party was advertized to start from Arsenal Street pier at a quarter to seven (...) When the children were numbered, there were about two hundred (...) There was an abundance of bathing and water polo (...) When the sun had declined a little the party climbed the small hill and had a fine view of Clear Water Bay (...) The place was left about half past seven. The party reached Arsenal Street at a quarter to nine." Quite a long day for two hundred children.
Comments
Early family picnics in the New Territories
I’d be interested to know more about the history of the picnic areas in the New Territories and from what date it became a habitual practice for European families to make excursions there with their children. A photo (unfortunately not in my possession), of my father aged 4 or 5, (the date would be 1913 or 1914) on an excursion shows him with his cousins in the company of European ladies in wide-brimmed hats. Everyone looks very hot. I wonder if other photos exist of pre-WW1 family excursions like this to the New Territories. I'd also be interested to read accounts of such picnics around this time if anyone knows of any.
Jill
RE: Picnics in the New Territories (NT)
By typing in "picnic" in the search function for old newspapers in the HKPL, one may glean at the excursions that were made. From 1900 to 1915, launch picnics were popuiar and were made to Cheung Chau, Lamma Island, Junk Bay, Clearwater Bay and Lai Chi Kok Bay. From 1916 onwards, clubs and organizations used the train service for picnics in Sha Tin and Fanling. I guess with the availability of the early roads in the NT such as the Castle Peak and Tai Po Roads at the turn of the last centruy and motor cars becoming subequently popular, picnic enthusiasts would have had the opportunity to drive to their favourite picnic spots.
Church picnics at Bank Holidays
I've typed in "picnic" as you advised, moddsey. For the period that I'm interested in, I randomly picked out 19th March 1916 from the Daily Press and 2nd August 1910 from the China Mail, both of which were church-organised picnics. For 1916 the entry reads: "A picnic in connection with St Peter's Church has been arranged for Easter Monday next, the destination being Shatin." Two 1910 entries on the same page mention the August Bank Holiday Monday when many launch picnics took place. The longer entry describes "the old established run by the Wesleyan Church at Wanchai." The destination in this case was the old temple at Tai Mu for which two launches were required. "The party was advertized to start from Arsenal Street pier at a quarter to seven (...) When the children were numbered, there were about two hundred (...) There was an abundance of bathing and water polo (...) When the sun had declined a little the party climbed the small hill and had a fine view of Clear Water Bay (...) The place was left about half past seven. The party reached Arsenal Street at a quarter to nine." Quite a long day for two hundred children.