THE EARL OF GROSVENOR’S GOLD PRIZE

The arms are those of Grosvenor for Richard Grosvenor (1731-1802), who was created Baron Grosvenor in 1761 and Earl Grosvenor in 1784.

The inscription reads: ‘LADYKIRK the Gift of the Right Honourable EARL GROSVENOR to the city of CHESTER TICKLETOBY 1795’

Chester Races

Chester races, which began in 1539 and have continued ever since, are said to be the oldest of such events in the world. Their origins are picturesque: ‘Once a year the Company and Corporation of Shoemakers met at the Cross upon the Roodee [the site of Chester Racecourse], before the Mayor of the city, and challenged the Company of Drapers to a football match. They offered “a ball of leather, called a foot-ball,” on condition that it should be taken to one of the three houses, viz.:- the Mayor’s, or either of the Sheriff’s. The competition led to so much strife, and so many were hurt, maimed, and even put in peril of their lives, that it was at length discontinued by an order of the Corporation, and in place of “foot-ball” six gleaves (a dart or small javelin) of silver were given to the winners of foot races between members of the Companies. This, too, was abolished, and a silver bell weighing about two ounces, was substituted, to be run for by horses on the Roodee. This appears to have been the beginning of the Chester Races.’¹

Chester Races gold cups

Besides this present example, only three other gold cups given for Chester Races by Richard Grosvenor (1731-1802), who was created Baron Grosvenor in 1761 and Earl Grosvenor in 1784, and was somet.mes Mayor of Chester, are recorded to have appeared at auction. The first, maker's mark I.S, London, 1765, was sold at Christie's, London, on October 4, 1950, lot 148. The second, maker’s mark I*D, London, 1774, was sold at Christie’s, London, on 15 June 2004, lot 52 (£117,250). The third, Peter & Anne Bateman, London, 1791, was sold at Christie’s, London, on 17 October 1963, lot 172 (purchased by Thomas Lumley, £3,500), and again at Christie’s, London, on 20 November 2001, lot 9 (£124,750).

The 1765 beaker was for the 1766 race and is now with the Corporation of the City of Chester 2. One further beaker is known to have survived and bears the mark of Richard Bayley, for the 1744 race, and is said to be at Calke Abbey

William Robertson’s Tickle Toby

The winner of this cup at Chester Races in 1795 was William Robertson’s nine-year-old, Tickle Toby.

William Robertson (1763?-1830) was a well-known Scottish gentleman sportsman who in 1782 inherited from his father, Roger, the estate of Ladykirk, Berwickshire. His enthusiasm for agricultural pursuits encouraged him to improve the estate, on which he built a new mansion, completed in 1799. Ladykirk was inherited by his granddaughter, Marianne Sarah Haggerston who in 1834 became the wife of David Marjoribanks (1797-1873). Upon their marriage he changed his name to Robertson and was subsequently created Baron Marjoribanks a few days before his accidental death.

‘Q. Well but is not Titus Livius a pretty Good Historian?

‘A. Ha Ha Ha. That same Titus is an Errant Puppy, A Damn,d, Insipid, Lying Coxcomb. Titus Livius a good Historian sayst thou? Why if I had a Schoolboy that writ such Latin I’de tickle his Toby for him.’³ [i.e. thrash his buttocks]

See Christie's, London, 15 June 2004, lot 52, for a similar cup, £117,250.

Notes

1. George Lee Fenwick, A History of the Ancient City of Chester, Chester, 1896, p. 371

2. Grimwade, no. 3682; Peter Boughton, Catalogue of Silver in the Grosvenor Museum, Chester, 2000, museum no. 95, pp. 140 and 142-143

3. Observator in Dialogue, London, Saturday, 14 May 1681, p. 1