This item isn’t actually in the museum. We have it borrowed and hope to find out more about it for its owner. It was the owner’s father who won this medallion. The owner believed it was mid 1920s but that was really as far as it went.
Here is the front of the medallion.
Lavington Tournament – a 1920s football medallion
This clearly says Lavington Tournament on it but that is as far as the information goes.
However, the main part of this item is hallmarked silver. It was made in Birmingham and assayed in 1923 according to the marks which can be made out on the back.
The hallmark
The anchor indicates Birmingham, the lion tells us this is Sterling silver and the X is the year letter for 1923. The other, hard to read mark is the maker’s mark – HB&S for Herbert Bushell and Son.
The whole item is tiny – about 3cm tall by 2½ cm wide.
Now obviously nobody alive now played in a tournament on or soon after 1923. Hardly anybody alive would have any chance of remembering such an event. But maybe somebody out there can tell us something about Lavington (football) Tournaments.
Do get in touch if you can.
Tags: 1920s, football medallion
Market Lavington Museum 
June 15, 2016 at 5:00 pm |
Reference the medallion I recovered one very much the same as
The one shown. Back in the 80s while detecting what I now know
As home field the old football field
This is also dated 1923 is silver hall marked and bears the initials
E.S.C but like yourself I have no idea why it was presented
I will send photo to you
June 16, 2016 at 6:11 am |
Thanks Norman. I think the ESC is initials of the winner. My local football expert (Mike) tells me they normally had names on the back. He has dozens o
f similar badges won by him or his father. But none of them say Lavington Tournament.
Rog
Thanks for photos
September 29, 2020 at 6:00 pm |
I also have a medallion this one has a Birmingham mark of ‘Y’ which I think is 1923. This one says West Lavington Tournament. It belonged to my Grandfather Ernest Miles, who was from Potterne and played for Devizes Town until he married and moved to Chippenham in the Autumn of 1924. We have the clock given to him by the Devizes Town team on his marriage.
I have searched the Wiltshire Times archive at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?NewspaperTitle=Wiltshire+Times+and+Trowbridge+Advertiser&BasicSearch=lavington+tournament
I found 2 entries for 1924
… presented Mrs. A. W. Lloyd (wife of the Chairman of the League Committee). EASTER TOURNAMENTS. LAVINGTON. The annual slx-a-sido football tournament in connection with the West Lavington Football Club was held on Easter Monday. There were two competitions, senior …
Published: Saturday 26 April 1924
Newspaper: Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser
MARKET LAVINGTON. SCHOOLS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT. The Third annual six-a-side tournament for elementary which took place at Market Whit Monday, attracted considerable interest …
Published: Saturday 14 June 1924
Newspaper: Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser
Looking further back the West Lavington tournament looks to have started early in the 20th century. I think someone with full access to the archive to tease out some “stories” form these tournaments.
Please send me an email and I can forward you some pictures.
September 29, 2020 at 7:09 pm |
Hello Mark, Thank you for your comment, which I have approved, so should now appear below the blog. Market Lavington Museum preserves the history of Market Lavington and Easterton, but not West Lavington, so any pictures of ML & E or their teams playing at WL would be relevant. Unfortunately, we have lost access to the museum e mail account! So, at the moment, please send to suefrost24@gmail.com