The Doncaster Cup

The Doncaster Cup, 1862. 'This piece of plate, won last week by Tim Whiffler, was modelled by Mr. Henry Hale, and manufactured by Messrs. London and Ryder, of New Bond-street. It is a group in silver representing Boadicea, Queen of the Iceni, in her war-chariot, haranguing the ancient Britons...The story of this hapless heroine is too well impressed on most minds to need being repeated. It is, perhaps, one of the earliest learnt and the last to be forgotten. Her name, with those of Cassibelaunus, Caractacus, and others, stands out in early English history with a distinctness second only to that of our immortal Alfred. Who is not familiar with her wrongs and sufferings - how the insurrection against the Romans, headed by her, was at first successful; how she attacked their settlements and reduced London to ashes; and how, being at length...defeated by Suetonius Paulinus, she put an end to her life by poison in the year of our Lord 61? The base of the group is supported by two modelled figures of ancient Britons; and on each side are mantled shields of bearskins, relieved with bows, quivers, spears, Druidic mistletoe, and ancient implements of war'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862. Creator: Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)