The Suffolk Sheep Society silver medal
Frederick Elkington (1826 - 1905)
Category
Coins and medals
Date
c. 1886
Materials
Silver
Measurements
6 mm (Height); 476 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Ickworth, Suffolk
NT 849220.1
Summary
Medal, silver; The Suffolk Sheep Society medal; Elkington & Co., London; c. 1886. One of a group of eight Suffolk Sheep Society medals in silver. The Suffolk sheep was first formally recognized as a distinct breed in 1859. Long valued for its fast growth and the quality of its meat, it is today the leading breed of sheep in Britain and Ireland and also farmed all over the world. The Suffolk Sheep Society was established in 1886 with the aims of developing and promoting the breed. Frederick William Hervey, 3rd Marquess of Bristol (1834-1907) was the first President of the Society and an enthusiastic breeder on his estates in and around Ickworth. The Suffolk Sheep Society medal was presented to competition winners at agricultural shows throughout the county over many decades. The eight silver medals at Ickworth are probably therefore prizes won by Lord Bristol. The Suffolk Sheep Society continues to flourish to this day.
Provenance
Presumably awarded to Frederick William Hervey, 3rd Marquess of Bristol (1834-1907) and by descent as part of the Bristol Collection. Acquired by the National Trust in 1956 under the auspices of the National Land Fund, later the National Heritage Memorial Fund
Marks and inscriptions
Obverse: SUFFOLK. SHEEP. SOCIETY / INCORPORATED 1886 Reverse, below sheep: ELKINGTON & CO LONDON
Makers and roles
Frederick Elkington (1826 - 1905), minter