Bonhams 1793 : A late Victorian presentation axe, Thames Iron Works Federated Clubs

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20 Feb 2013 11:00 GMT Chester
Football Memorabilia
Back to auction 21119

A late Victorian presentation axe, Thames Iron Works Federated Clubs - West Ham Football Club

A silver ceremonial axe, with silver banding/edging to the handle, the axe head with the motto "AUDAX ATQUE FIDELIS" (bold and faithful), engraved to the blade 'PRESENTED TO MRS ARNOLD F.HILLS By the THAMES IRON WORKS FEDERATED CLUBS ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF THE NEW CYCLE & ATHLETIC GROUNDS CANNING TOWN SATURDAY JUNE 19th 1897', hallmarked, complete with original Mappin & Webb velvet lined presentation case. Approx. 30cm length.

Sold for £2,875 inc. premium

Footnotes

The Thames Iron Works Co.Ltd. was a major shipbuilder, situated at the mouth of the River Lea in East London. The Thames Iron Works Football Club was founded by the Company's owner Mr Arnold Hills in 1895 and initially played at the Hermit Road ground in Canning Town, vacated by the defunct Castle Swifts FC. When evicted in October a year later, for enclosing the site and charging admission, they moved briefly to a temporary site before Hills secured a large site in Canning Town, close to where West Ham station now stands. Opened in Jubilee Year, they were named the Memorial Grounds and housed not only a football pitch but athletic and cycle tracks. Commentators stated that the grounds were fit to stage the Cup Final. Thames Iron Works FC were officially wound up in June 1900 and reformed as West Ham FC in July of the same year. West Ham continued to play at the stadium until they moved to the Boleyn Ground in 1904.