The B.A.R.C. plaque commemorating the completion of the Aintree circuit, in electroplated silver, featuring the club's motif raised within a decorativ

The B.A.R.C. plaque commemorating the completion of the Aintree circuit, in electroplated silver, featuring the club's motif raised within a decorative border and inscribed PRESENTED TO MRS M.D. TOPHAM BY THE BRITISH AUTOMOBILE CLUB TO COMMEMORATE THE COMPLETION OF THE MOTOR RACING CIRCUIT AT AINTREE 20TH MAY 1954, held on a wooden base, 15 by 19cm., 6 by 7?in.; together with a circular electroplated silver ashtray from the club-house bar, engraved with a labelled map of the Aintree motor race circuit, diameter 12.5cm., 5in. (2) appendix A COLLECTION OF MEMORABILIA RELATING TO THE TOPHAM FAMILY, FORMER OWNERS OF AINTREE RACECOURSE AND MOTOR RACING CIRCUIT. LOTS 24 TO 133 THE TOPHAM FAMILY LEGACY: THE ''GRAND NATIONAL'' - THE ''BLUE RIBAND'' OF STEEPLECHASING AND MOTOR RACING - FIVE BRITISH GRAND PRIX In 1829 a William Lynn, proprietor of the Waterloo Hotel, Liverpool, leased land from the Second Earl of Sefton and began staging flat race meetings at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool. He was soon attracted to the growing public interest in ''steeplechasing'' and following negotiations with the local farmers inaugurated jumping races with the running of the ''Great Liverpool Chase'' in 1837 and again in 1838. These initial jumping races took place at Maghull the neighbouring parish to Aintree. Lynn then transferred the venue for the 1839 race to Aintree, but resigned from the management of the race and handed over leadership of the race committee to local notables including the Earls of Derby and Sefton and Lord Robert Grosvenor. A new syndicate was formed to stage the race of which Edward William Topham was a member. Thus began the Topham family's connection with the race and its first authentic running at Aintree on 26th February 1839. The family remained in control through three generations for 125 years. Such a long association of one family with a premier sporting event is unusual if not unparalleled. Edward W Topham, had earlier moved in 1837 from Middleham, Yorkshire to take over as Clerk of the Course and Handicapper at Chester racecourse into which he injected ''new life''. By 1839 he had become so absorbed with the potential at Aintree that he handed over his duties at Chester to his two sons Christopher R Topham and Joseph B Topham. The first few races at Aintree were either ''weight for age'' contests or all the horses carried 12 stone. In 1843 Edward W Topham changed the race to a handicap. He had become renowned for his handicapping skills which earned him the name of ''The Wizard''. He simultaneously changed the name of the race to ''The Liverpool and National Steeplechase'' and in 1847 changed it again to ''The Grand National'' a handicap steeplechase. Mr Topham had built stables and other facilities on adjacent land which he had purchased himself when realising the possibilities of Aintree. He revitalised the place, adding to, and greatly improving the buildings and the general layout of the course. In 1848 he took over the lease from William Lynn and in 1856 Mr Topham took over the management of the race. By that time the Topham family had become very closely identified with Aintree, the two names being almost synonymous, but throughout they had also enjoyed the support of the Earls of Sefton and Derby and the association of these families was a ''tower of strength'' to Aintree Racecourse. Edward W Topham died in 1873 and his two sons Christopher Reuben Topham and Joseph Bell Topham jointly took over the management of Aintree. Christopher had three children and died in 1898. Joseph had fourteen children of whom eight died in childbirth or shortly thereafter. He continued managing Aintree until his death in 1910 when his eldest son Edward Anthony Christopher Topham took charge. Edward A.C. Topham held the reins at Tophams for 22 years in which time he significantly enhanced the popularity of the Grand National at both home and abroad. Edward A.C. Topham had two children: Mark C. Topham, whose son Christopher is serving today in the British Army and Rosamund M.D. Topham, who married John R Ryan in 1938; they had two children, a son Nicholas J.R. Ryan who lives in Wiltshire, and a daughter Lauraine M Rimbey who lives in the USA. Upon his death in 1932 Edward A.C. Topham was succeeded by his brother Arthur Ronald Topham who in 1922 had married Mirabel Hillier ''an actress of repute''. In 1949 the family holding company Tophams Limited purchased the 260 acre site of the Racecourse for ?275,000 from the Earl of Sefton and in 1953 added the Mildmay steeplechase course, which successfully increased the racing options at Aintree. During this time the Grand National gained enormously in popularity and newsreel films of the race were soon being shown on cinema screens throughout the world. In 1953, as a result of visiting Lord March's facilities at Goodwood, where horse and motor racing co-existed successfully, Mrs Mirabel Topham formed the Aintree Automobile Racing Company with the aim of improving profitability at the racecourse. A three mile Grand Prix Motor Circuit was laid at Aintree, built in just 3 months, for a cost of ?100,000. The first motor race took place at Aintree on Saturday 29th May 1954. The circuit shared the British Grand Prix with Silverstone, hosting five F1 World Championship races between 1955 and 1962. When Brands Hatch extended its track to full Grand Prix length Mrs Topham believed it would be unprofitable to host the British Grand Prix at Aintree on what was likely to become a three-way basis and the full circuit at Aintree was closed in August 1964. Motor racing thereafter was restricted to club events over a 1.64-mile shortened circuit and this continued until 1982. The track itself is still in existence. Arthur and Mirabel Topham did not have children. Following Arthur's death in 1958 Mirabel Dorothy Topham took over the running of Aintree herself. The National was first televised in 1960, but after the initial excitement the attractions of ''arm chair viewing'' eventually started to have a marked effect on attendances which triggered financial difficulties for Tophams Limited. Ultimately the family found it uneconomic to maintain Aintree as a racecourse and in 1973 Mirabel Topham sold the Racecourse for property development to the Walton Group which then failed to sustain its plans. In 1982 the Racecourse was purchased by the Aintree Racecourse Charitable Appeal Trust which executed a long lease to the Jockey Club. Aintree Racecourse is now once again thriving under the management of the Aintree Racecourse Company Limited a subsidiary of the Jockey Club's Racecourse Holdings Trust. Initially the Tophams did not live on the Racecourse, but by 1937 Ronald and Mirabel Topham, had completed the conversion and enlargement of the former bailiff's cottage next to the old parade ring and named it Paddock Lodge. It thereafter became the Topham family home and it was not included in the sale to the Walton Group. It remained in the ownership of Mirabel Topham until her death in 1980. Her estate was inherited jointly by her niece Patricia ''Pat'' Bidwell-Topham and her nephew James ''Jim'' Bidwell-Topham the great grandchildren of Edward W. Topham on their mother's side. Arthur and Mirabel had earlier ''adopted'' both Pat and Jim neither of whom married. Pat died in 1982. Jim Bidwell-Topham, who was Clerk of the Course at Aintree for many years, continued to live at Paddock Lodge until his death on 17th November 2005 when Paddock Lodge passed to Nicholas J R Ryan the grandson of Edward A C Topham. In 2005 the Aintree parade ring and winners enclosure was moved to a new position directly in front of Paddock Lodge. In 2007 the house was purchased by Lord Daresbury, Chairman of Aintree, thus ending the Topham family's 168 year association with the Racecourse. A large part of the items here presented have remained undisturbed at Paddock Lodge for many years and together with other items now offered by the family represent a unique opportunity for collectors of both horse racing and motor racing memorabilia. Appendix: Edward William Topham (1805-1873) Established the Topham involvement with the Grand National in 1839. The race's first handicapper. Known as ''The Wizard''. Father to Christopher and Joseph. Christopher Reuben Topham (1840-1898) Joint Clerk of the Course with his brother Joseph from 1873 to 1898. Father to Mary who married Edgar Bidwell. They had two children Patricia & Jim Bidwell who both adopted the surname Bidwell-Topham. Joseph Bell Topham (1844-1910) Joint Clerk of the Course with his brother Christopher from 1873 to 1898, and in a sole capacity until 1910. He had 14 children of which 8 died in childbirth or shortly thereafter. Father to Edward A C Topham. Edward Anthony Christopher Topham (1878-1932) MD, Handicapper and Clerk of the Course at Aintree from 1910 - 1932. Father to Mark & Rosamund Topham. Grandfather to Christopher Topham, Lauraine Rimbey and Nicholas Ryan, the last family owner of Paddock Lodge. Arthur Ronald Topham (1885-1958) MD of Aintree from 1932 - 1958. Brother of Edward A C Topham. Married Mirabel Hillier. No children. Mirabel D Topham (1891-1980) MD of Aintree from 1958 - 1973. Married Arthur R Topham in 1922. Sold Aintree Racecourse in 1973. Patricia M Bidwell-Topham (1926-1982) Daughter of Mary Topham who married Edgar Bidwell. James C. Bidwell-Topham (1923-2005) Son of Mary Topham who married Edgar Bidwell. Jim Topham was Clerk of the Course for many years. The last Topham to live at Paddock Lodge.