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Lot Essay
THE ROYAL BRITISH BOWMEN SOCIETY
The latter part of the 18th century saw the emergence of numerous exclusive clubs and societies. Archery was revived as a fashionable pastime amongst the English aristocracy. The Royal British Bowmen Society was established by Sir Watkin Williams Wynn 4th Bt. (1749-1789) on Wynnstay in 1787. He secured the patronage of the Prince of Wales, later King George IV, in 1789. The society met at Wynnstay, Acton Park, Hawarden Castle, Eaton Hall, and elsewhere.
The meetings took a whole day with members competing in the morning, lunching, competing once more and then dining; dancing and supper followed. The first prizes were shot for on 6 October 1788, when Sir Foster Cunliffe, of Acton Park, an accomplished archer won. Gold medallions were presented to the ladies and silver bugles given as prizes to the gentleman. In 1790 the hostess Lady Cunliffe shot successfully at 30, 60 and 70 yards and Robert Hesketh of Rosell at 63, 96 and 128 yards. The society flourished until 1794 when they resolved that 'on account of the several military employments which many of the members of this society have entered into...meetings [shall] cease till peace be restored, and our bowmen more at liberty to attent the noble science of archery'. The archives of the society are preserved in the library at Badminton House, the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort.
Other archery trophies include a bow and cross by Phipps and Robinson given by the Duchess of Northumberland to the Archers of Chevy Chase in 1793, illustrated in M. Clayton, The Collector's Dictionary of Goldsmiths and Silversmiths, London, 1971, pp. 15-16, pl. 7. Another silver bugle, by William Frisbee, 1798, given by the Prince of Wales to the Royal Kentish Bowmen was offered by Christie's, London, 19 November 2002, lot 99.
ROBERT HESKETH
Robert was born into a Lancashire landowning family in 1764, the son of Fleetwood Hesketh (1738-1769) and his wife Frances (1735-1809), the daughter of Peter Bold. Robert married Maria Rawlinson (1766-1824), eldest daughter of Henry Rawlinson of Glassyard Hall on 11 September 1790, eight days after having won the present lot. Their eldest son Edward died young, therefore he was succeeded on his death in 1824 by his second son Peter Fleetwood Hesketh (1801-1866), who was knighted and created a baronet in the coronation honours of Queen Victoria. He was a Liberal M.P. and developer, with Decimus Burton, of the town of Fleetwood, Lancashire.