A unique artefact from the Lydiard House collection is back home after expert cleaning by the firm which supplied it more than a century ago.
On March 15 1917, Vernon Henry St.John turned 21 and became the sixth Viscount Bolingbroke - the last Lord of Lydiard.
Celebrations were low-key as the birthday fell in the midst of World War One, but the tenants of the Bolingbroke estate at Lydiard Park, who were fond of the family, were determined that the event should be properly marked.
After months of fundraising, they bought a solid silver rose bowl from Deacons at a cost of over £75, or around £6,000 in today’s money, and it was Deacons who painstakingly cleaned it more than 100 years later.
The return of the bowl to Lydiard House was marked with a recreation of a photograph taken when it was originally presented to the young Viscount, who went on to serve in the war and lived until 1974. The image appeared in the old Daily Sketch newspaper, which eventually merged with the Daily Mail.
Among those invited to mark the rose bowl's homecoming were Deacons Managing Director Richard Deacon, great grandson of Mildred Deacon, who was in charge of the business in 1917, together with James Woolford and his grandson, Sam Woolford, of Hook Farm in Lydiard Tregoze.
Sam Woolford’s great-great grandfather Elliot Woolford was on the organising committee which raised funds for and purchased the rose bowl from Deacons.
Chair of the Friends of Lydiard Park, Sarah Finch-Crisp said: “It is fantastic that the rose bowl has been so beautifully restored by Deacons of Swindon, the same family business that sold it to Lord Bolingbroke’s tenants in 1917.
"We are delighted to bring together Mildred Deacon’s great grandson Richard Deacon with Elliot Woolford’s grandson James Woolford."
The Friends are planning a series of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the Sixth Viscount's death, and further information can be found at https://www.friendsoflydiardpark.org.uk/events-listing/
Both James and Sam Woolford spoke of their happiness at being present for the homecoming of the rose bowl, and Mr Deacon explained the painstaking restoration process, which involved using a soft toothbrush and a specialist cleaning agent to cover every part of the bowl.
Deacons has been celebrating its 175th anniversary, and Richard Deacon said: “I am delighted that Deacons, as Swindon’s oldest retail business, is able to lend its support to Lydiard Park and its role in the history and story of Swindon”.
Swindon Museums Manager Frances Yeo said: “It’s amazing to think that Deacons Jewellers retailed this rose bowl in 1917, and over 100 years later, have worked to make it look its best for display!
"We’re looking forward to being able to show off this important part of our collections to visitors, when Lydiard House Museum reopens to the public on 30 March.”
Sarah Finch-Crisp said: “We are immensely grateful to Richard Deacon and his team for their sponsorship of the Rose Bowl Project.
"In addition to restoring the rose bowl, their support has assisted the Friends of Lydiard Park in creating a digital collection of historic photos and documents on The Lydiard Archives website."
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