Two large matching silver-gilt dishes, one Luís José Eloy da Silva, Lisbon, second half of the 18th century; the other John Muirhead & Son, Glasgow, 1864

The inscription reads: 'These two dishes presented to Robert George Wilmot Berkeley by the Tenant Farmers on the Spetchley Park Estate on his coming of age 23rd April 1919.'

‘There have been extensive festivities at Spetchley Park, near Worcester, to celebrate the coming of age of Mr. Robert Berkeley, only son of Mr. and Mrs. R.V. Berkeley, but he was unable to get home, as he is serving with the Army of the Rhine. A county ball (poudré) and a tenants’ ball were given, and were largely attended. Spetchley House, rebuilt about a century ago, is a large stone house, with an Ionic portico, standing in a well-wooded park. The founder of the family made a fortune as a clothier in Worcester during the sixteenth century. The estate was sold by the Sheldons (who obtained it in 1588 by marriage with the Littletons) to Rowland Berkeley, M.P. for Worcester, from whom it was inherited by his son, who was a Judge of the King’s Bench. It was Judge Berkeley who decided against Hampden in the ship money case, and in 1641 Parliament fined him £20,000 and imprisoned him. He founded the Berkeley Hospital at Worcester, and died in 1656. Spetchley was the residence of Cromwell before the Battle of Worcester.’(Truth, London, Wednesday, 28 May 1919, p. 879a)

Captain Robert George Wilmot Berkeley (23 April 1898 – 28 August 1969), who was educated at Downside and The Oratory School, served in the army in both World Wars. He was High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1933, and Deputy Lieutenant of the county in 1952. At leisure he was long associated with the Berkeley Hunt and played four times for Worcester Country Cricket Club. In 1927 he was married to the Hon. Myrtle Emily Theresa (1907-1982), second daughter of Charles Joseph Thaddeus Dormer, 14th Baron Dormer of Wyng. They had three children.