Marquess of Exeter interest - A George II sterling silver salver, London 1750 by William Peaston (reg. 8th Jan 1746)

Of shaped circular form, with shaped cavetto edge and splayed shell and C scroll rim. Raised on four scroll feet. The otherwise plain field centered with a contemporaneous rocaille and foliate cartouche, later engraved with a gothic script monogram IKC surmounted by a crest of a demi-lion rampant. The underside with a later presentation inscription ‘Presented to The Lady Isabel Cecil on her marriage with W.H Thomas esq. by the tenants & friends of the Marquis of Exeter, 7th August 1884'. Fully marked to the reverse.

Diameter – 39 cm / 15.4 inches

Weight – 1488 grams / 47.84 ozt

The crest is for Cecil

For Lady Isabella Georgiana Katherine Cecil (1853-1917), who was the third child and eldest daughter of William Alleyne Cecil (1825-1895) the 3rd Marquess of Exeter. The family seat was Burghley House in Stamford. She married William Henry Thomas (c.1851/55-1903) on the 7th August 1884, William Henry was the eldest son of the Rector of Warmsworth, Rev Charles Edward Thomas and Georgiana Mary Hely-Hutchinson, niece of the 3rd Earl of Donoughmore, he was educated at Eton.

After their marriage they took up residence in Warmsworth Hall in Doncaster In 1891, William Henry inherited Cusworth Hall from his great uncle, Richard Heber Wrightson (1800-1891). William Henry applied to change his surname by Royal Licence to the old family name of Battie-Wrightson, which was granted on 26th December 1891. William was a barrister and a Sherriff of Yorkshire. He died from a cerebral haemorrhage in 1903. Despite an unpleasant court case from her brother in law following her husband’s death, she continued to reside at Cusworth Hall and oversaw many improvements. From the onset of World War One she relocated permanently to Wothorpe Villa in Stamford, turning it into a private convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers and styling herself as ‘Commandant of the Villa Hospital’.

Cusworth Hall declined in the hands of her son Robert Cecil Battie-Wrightson (1888-1952), and the house and contents were sold in October 1952, which presumably would have included this salver.