Victorian Silver Castle-Top Vinaigrette St Giles Church, Wrexham

An extremely rare Victorian silver castle-top Vinaigrette of shaped rectangular form, the base and sides with bands of engine turned decoration, the lid engraved with a view of St Giles Church, Wrexham. The silver gilt grille pierced with a flower head and scrolls.

By Nathaniel Mills, Birmingham, 1848.

St Giles' Church is the parish church of Wrexham, Wales, and is a Grade 1 listed building, described by Simon Jenkins as "the glory of the Marches". At 180-feet long, it is the largest medieval Parish Church in Wales. Since 2012, its interior has been re-ordered to include a remodelling of the Chancel as St David's Chapel, and its north aisle is the home of the regimental chapel of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (now part of the Royal Welsh). The core of the present building dates from the 14th century, although it was extensively remodelled in the later 15th century by Thomas, Lord Stanley and his wife Lady Margaret Beaufort (mother of King Henry VII) both of whom are depicted on corbels either side of the chancel arch. In this depiction, Stanley has a crown, but donkey's ears.

Its tower (which is not actually a steeple at all but the 16th century tower of the church) is traditionally one of the seven wonders of Wales which are commemorated in an anonymously written rhyme: Pistyll Rhaeadr and Wrexham steeple, Snowdon's mountain without its people, Overton yew trees, St. Winefride wells, Llangollen bridge and Gresford bells.

On a window are the words of the Evangelical hymn "From Greenland's Icy Mountains" written by Reginal Heber and first performed at the Church in 1819 and just west of the tower is the grave of Elihu Yale after whom Yale University in the USA is named. It has a long, fanciful epitaph containing the lines: Born in America, in Europe bred, in Africa travell'd and in Asia wed, Where long he lov'd and thriv'd; At London dead.

Reserved - £3,000.00