News
Order of the Golden Fleece
September 18, 2018 - The Chairman
At the weekend I handled part of the regalia of an existing Knight of The Golden Fleece. I was interested as the Great Duke was often painted more often than not wearing the Order at his neck. But I learnt that it is quite complicated as there are two orders an older and original order from […]
Wellington’s Irish family home
September 13, 2018 - The Chairman
During my recent visit to the Emerald Isle I visited the ruins of Dangan Castle, which was the home of Wellington as a boy and young man. In the early fifteenth century Dangan passed by marriage to Sir Richard de Wellesley, who had been sheriff of Kildare. The Wellesleys became Protestants after 1640 and increased […]
Extraordinary private Napoleonic collection revealed
September 10, 2018 - The Chairman
A unique collection of Napoleonic items is going on show in Paris this week. Just 20 items including this beautiful glass are to be displayed at a special exhibition at the 3oth edition of the La Biennale Paris. Its where spectacular items of all sorts of art are purchased. It is “the storehouse of European […]
Five objects from I object: Ian Hislop’s search for dissent
September 7, 2018 - Richard Moss
Ian Hislop has been on a mission to find stories of dissent, subversion and satire hidden within the vast collections of the British Museum for a new exhibition I object: Ian Hislop’s search for dissent. Showcasing over 100 objects that challenge the official version of events and defy established narratives, the items span three millennia […]
Wellington’s Irish birthplace
August 31, 2018 - The Chairman
On our recent trip to Ireland we spent some time in Dublin and were able to visit 24 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin, now the Merrion Hotel. This is allegedly the birthplace of the Great Duke although there is a question that he was born at 6 Merrion Street, very close by. Anyway the Merrion Hotel were […]
Picton’s home goes under the hammer
August 29, 2018 - The Chairman
I read in today’s Country Life that Lieutenant Sir Thomas Picton’s old home in Carmarthenshire is about to go under the hammer. Iscoed Mansion was bought by Picton in 1804 but sadly now it is something of a ruin. It remained in the Picton family until 1919. Whilst much of the estate has been sold […]
Ireland’s Wellington Monument
August 29, 2018 - The Chairman
A number of the Waterloo Association visited Ireland in August to see the many sites of the 1798 Rebellion which few people have heard of. It so nearly toppled the British Empire and yet little is known. More about this later as the subject fits well into the Age of Revolution. But let us start […]
Early Peterloo medal acquired by People’s History Museum
August 11, 2018 - Richard Moss
A number of commemorative medals were produced following the Peterloo Massacre of 1819, but this one, recently acquired by the People’s History Museum in Manchester, is believed to be one of the earliest. Its closeness to the terrible events of the notorious massacre of August 16 of 1819 when 18 people in a crowd of […]
A smart dressing gown for Napoleon
August 3, 2018 - The Chairman
This fine cloak of Napoleon’s has recently been in the news. It was picked for a special exhibition in Buckingham Palace over the summer. This exhibition marks the Prince of Wales’s 70th Birthday. More details can be found on https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/prince-patron/buckingham-palace The cloak is a magnificent Egyptian-style cloak and was worn by Napoleon the night before the […]
Join the revolution!
July 10, 2018 - Anna Husband
Can you suggest a great item from a museum, gallery or private collection to add to our Revolutionary collection? One that can tell a story of new ideas, change, uprising, invention? If so, we would love to hear from you! The Age of Revolution focuses on the period 1775 – 1848, a time […]