Agricultural Interest – A Victorian sterling silver presentation trophy cup, London 1859 by Thomas Smily

Of campana form upon a domed circular pedestal foot. The side engraved with a presentation inscription reading “1859 Dorking Fat Stock Show presented by George Cubitt Esqr for the best Bullock shewn by a tenant farmer” with scroll embellishments. Gilt interior. Fully marked to the side.

Height – 23.7 cm / 9.255 inches

Weight – 444 grams / 14.27 ozt

The winner of the cup was George Weller (1792-1882) who was the tenant farmer at Bradley Farm in Dorking, detailed in the Sussex Advertiser Surrey Gazette December 15th 1859, as "A silver cup value £10 10s the gift of George Cubitt Esq has been awarded to Mr George Weller, for the best bullock shown by a tennant farmer"

Bradley Farm was on the estate of George Cubitt, 1st Baron Ashcombe, PC, DL (1828 – 1917) who in 1892 was elevated to the Lords as Baron Ashcombe, of Dorking, in the County of Surrey and of Bodiam Castle, in the County of Sussex. He married Laura Joyce (1826-1904), daughter of Rev. James Joyce, their great-great granddaughter Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, wife of HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales.