Ramsgate's Wine Coolers

In 1934, Tomson & Wotton Brewers gifted the Borough of Ramsgate a pair of silver gilt wine coolers to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the town’s incorporation, and today they are in the Ramsgate town silver collection. The wine coolers were supplied by George Fuggles & Co Jewellers of 29 High Street, Ramsgate. The wine coolers date from the early part of the 19th Century and once belonged to a famous family. The maker of the wine coolers is Robert Garrard, with two sets of hallmarks dating the wine coolers to 1839 and 1840. Around the base is stamped R & S Garrard London 1835 – 1840.

In 1934, the inside of the rim was engraved “presented by Tomson & Wotton limited to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the town’s incorporation 1884 to 1934”. On the base, two engravings were added, being the Ramsgate coat of arms and the coat of arms of Tomson & Wotton. The wine coolers also carried two identical armorial crests on the base belonging to a previous owner who has been identified as being a member of the 19th Century aristocracy.

On the base opposite each other there are two crests that are identical. Below each crest is a motto “en grace effie” meaning “on grace depend”. The supporting dexter (left side of the shield) depicts a stag argent with an arrow in its mouth pointing downwards and the supporting sinister (right side of the shield) shows a horse argent with a cross flory (fleurs-de-lis). On the helm (top) of the shield is engraved an Earl’s coronet. The coat of arms is a union of two armorial coat of arms, the left side being the arms of the Earl of Cardigan and on the right arms used by the Marquess of Ailesbury, his father.

In 1856, George William Frederick Brudenell Bruce inherited his father titles to become the 2nd Marquess of Ailesbury. George Brudenell Bruce was the oldest son of Charles Brudenell Bruce, 1st Marquess of Ailesbury. Born in London in 1804, he was baptised at St George's, Hanover Square, London. King George III and Queen Charlotte were his godparents. On the death of his father, he succeeded to his father's titles. In 1868, Earl George Brudenell Bruce became known as Earl Brudenell Bruce, 2nd Marquess of Ailesbury and the 8th Earl of Cardigan, after he inherited the titles of his distant cousin, James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan. James Thomas Brudenell was renowned in history for leading the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854.

To add to the provenance inside the wine coolers are removable holders to hold wine bottles, which have the engraved insignia of the Earl of Cardigan, that being an engraved seahorse argent below an Earl’s coronet.

It is not known how George Fuggles acquired the wine coolers or who commissioned them from Robert Garrad in 1840. They may have been inherited by Earl Brudenell Bruce from the previous 7th Earl of Cardigan. However, the provenance does rest with Earl Brudenell Bruce as a former owner.

Written by:
Councillor Tony Ovenden (Sir Moses Montefiore Ward)