The City Plate
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The City Plate |
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In the days when the entertainment of Royalty and distinguished visitors was one of the principal features of civic life, it was customary for them to bring gifts. If the gift was presented to the Mayor personally, they would usually pass on the gift to the City when they left office office. As the Mayor now has only symbolic status, the gifts are automatically passed on to the City, to be looked after by the Charter Trustees.
It is also customary for the retiring Mayor to present a gift to the City of Bath.
The next few pages show a small selection of articles of the City Plate. Many of these items can be seen in display cases in the Guildhall.
The Prince of Wales Cup, Salver and Case
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In
October 1738 Frederick, Prince of Wales, and the Princess of Wales, visited
Bath. They were so pleased with their visit that, before leaving, the
Prince cleared the prison of all debtors and presented 1000 guineas to the General Hospital. |
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| Epergne
The silver epergne is in the form of a table centre piece, composed of three gracefully draped female figures. These are supporting a basket which holds a cut crystal engraved dish. The item stands on a triangular black ebony scroll plinth. On the first side of the plinth are the inscriptions. On the second, the City Arms are engraved and the third side shows the Arms of the National Provincial Bank of England. The marks show that the date of manufacture was 1874. |
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