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Lot 170 The Ward family, ennobled in the 15th century as Barons and to the Earldom of Dudley in the 19th century, were large land owners in the counties of Staffordshire and Worcestershire, who amassed a great family fortune through their mineral interests such as coal-mining, steel and iron. The family seat, Himley Hall in Staffordshire, was a medieval manor house, which in the 18th century was demolished and replaced with a magnificent Palladian mansion. Shortly after, the parklands and gardens were extended by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. It was William Ward, 11th Baron Ward (1817-1885, later 1st Earl of Dudley), who not content with Himley Hall, additionally purchased the imposing Witley Court in the neighbouring county of Worcestershire. The architect Samuel Duakes, who had previously transformed Dudley House on Park Lane, was commissioned to reconfigure the house in the fashionable Italianate style of the 1850s. However, Witley Court was sold soon after the First World War and Himley Hall once again became the family seat.
William Humble David Ward, 4th Earl of Dudley (1920-2013) affectionately known as ‘Billy’ to his family and close friends and whose childhood home was Himley Hall. Academically gifted, he gained a scholarship to Eton followed by an exhibition to Christ Church, Oxford, the then Viscount Ednam had to forego an academic career due to contracting meningitis, which was quickly followed by the outbreak of the Second World War. During the war Lord Ednam served as Lieutenant in the 10th Royal Hussars and was ADC to the Viceroy of India, Lord Wavell from 1942 to 1943, he was then wounded in action in Italy in September 1944. After the war, he pursued his business interests, which included being made chairman of the British Federal Welder and Machine Co., deputy chairman of Baggeridge Brick Co. and a director of Tribune Investment Trust. Noted for being a keen amateur actor, he was cast as PC Balder in the 1954 charity production of ‘The Frog’ at the Scala Theatre in London by Ian Hay and Edgar Wallace. Lord Ednam succeeded to the Earldom of Dudley on the death of his father in 1969, becoming the 4th Earl of Dudley and taking his seat in the House of Lords as a Conservative peer.
This collection ranges from historic family memorabilia such as the regalia belonging to William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, KP, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, KStJ, TD, PC, DL (1867-1932), who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1902-1905) and Governor General of Australia (1908-1911) lots 195-197A, and the magnificent bronze, ’La Paix’ by Antoine-Louis Bayre, lot 262, which could easily have adorned a majestic garden scheme at one of the family’s seats, as well as an extensive collection of French furniture and works of art added by subsequent generations.
William Humble David Ward, 4th Earl of Dudley (1920-2013) affectionately known as ‘Billy’ to his family and close friends and whose childhood home was Himley Hall. Academically gifted, he gained a scholarship to Eton followed by an exhibition to Christ Church, Oxford, the then Viscount Ednam had to forego an academic career due to contracting meningitis, which was quickly followed by the outbreak of the Second World War. During the war Lord Ednam served as Lieutenant in the 10th Royal Hussars and was ADC to the Viceroy of India, Lord Wavell from 1942 to 1943, he was then wounded in action in Italy in September 1944. After the war, he pursued his business interests, which included being made chairman of the British Federal Welder and Machine Co., deputy chairman of Baggeridge Brick Co. and a director of Tribune Investment Trust. Noted for being a keen amateur actor, he was cast as PC Balder in the 1954 charity production of ‘The Frog’ at the Scala Theatre in London by Ian Hay and Edgar Wallace. Lord Ednam succeeded to the Earldom of Dudley on the death of his father in 1969, becoming the 4th Earl of Dudley and taking his seat in the House of Lords as a Conservative peer.
This collection ranges from historic family memorabilia such as the regalia belonging to William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, KP, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, KStJ, TD, PC, DL (1867-1932), who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1902-1905) and Governor General of Australia (1908-1911) lots 195-197A, and the magnificent bronze, ’La Paix’ by Antoine-Louis Bayre, lot 262, which could easily have adorned a majestic garden scheme at one of the family’s seats, as well as an extensive collection of French furniture and works of art added by subsequent generations.
A GILT-BRASS HEXAGONAL HALL LANTERN
20TH CENTURY
Closed7 June 2017
Price Realised
GBP 2,000