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| The nineteenth
of June 1886 was a beautiful sunny day. Six landaus (open
horse-drawn carriages) followed by two "four-in-hands"
made their way through the bunting-decked villages of Pen-y-Cae,
Abercrave ( Abercraf ), and Caerbont to Saint Cynog's Church in
Ystradgynlais.
The first landau contained Adelina Patti and her bridesmaids and in the second were Ernesto Nicolini, his best man and ushers. The procession caused "a great stir" as it passed, with much waving and cheering. |
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Photograph by kind permission of Mrs T.J.Davies ( Ystradgynlais) |
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Just about everyone in the area turned out to cheer the procession. They had paid for the street decorations from their own limited means. Adelina however provided refreshments for three thousand children and bought new clothes for three hundred of the poorest. Seven hundred invited guests and many more well- wishers were waiting at the church to welcome their Diva and her new husband-to-be. Adelina wore a blue silk dress with cream duchesse lace and as both Nicolini and herself were French subjects, the French consul M.de Trobriand, was present to witness the signing of the marriage contract. (The church still has the original marriage document) |
| The wedding reception held at
Craig-y-Nos that evening was a testament to Adelina's talent for creating
the unforgettable occasion. She provided several tons of fresh meat, wagon
loads of bread and pastries and huge casks of strong beer. Over a hundred
yeomen, trades folks and servants enjoyed a banquet in the great vaulted
hall, whilst Adelina and her guests celebrated in the winter garden.
Congratulations were read out from the Prince of Wales, the Queen of the Belgians, the Rothschilds, the Duchess of Newcastle, Queen Elizabeth of Romania, Lily Langtree, and Christine Nilsson as well as many other admirers and contemporaries. Local people built a gigantic bonfire on the mountain overlooking the castle and its light could be seen for many miles. Firework displays, music, singing, and dancing continued all night and the ball only finished after daybreak. The marriage brought twelve years of happiness to the couple and heralded in the best period of Adelina's life at Craig-y-Nos Castle. Nicolini did not enjoy good health however and died in January 1898 when Adelina was fifty six years old. |
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