Collection of memorabilia relating to William Ward, Stud Foreman to the 6th Early of Rosebery.

A collection of memorabilia originally owned by William Ward, Stud Foreman to the 6th Early of Rosebery at the Crafton Stud, Mentmore, Buckinghamshire,
comprising: 5 framed photographs, various sizes, of Lord Rosebery Classic winning horses, variously by W W Rouch, Clarence Hailey & Frank Griggs i) Ladas, won Two Thousand Guineas and The Derby 1894; ii) Sir Visto won St Leger and The Derby 1895; iii) Cicero won The Derby 1905; iv) Blue Peter won The Derby 1939; and v) Ocean Swell won The New Derby 1944; three unframed photographs i) Vauduce won The 1,000 Guineas 1915; ii) Chelandry 1,000 Guineas  winner1897 and iii) the 1923 2,000 Guineas winner with Charlie Elliott Up and with trainer Jack Jarvis; a silver pocket watch by J W Benson, London, the inside of the case inscribed RANCLIFFE [selling] PLATE, WON BY, NAMELESS LADY, RIDDEN BY M. McNAUGHTEN, 17 RUNNERS. 3rd OCT 1900, movement running (comes with a letter from Weatherby's who have researched the inscription); William Ward's personal silver-plated Limit No.2 pocket watch from Pyman's of Leighton Buzzard, movement running; a Kodacolor photograph of William Ward taken at Crafton Stud; three Mentmore Stud cards 1960 to 1962, and a Lord Rosebery's Horses in Training card 1963; a copy of Jack Jarvis's autobiography “They're Off” with presentation inscription from Lord Rosebery to William Ward  in December 1969; and two older books “Modern Practical Farriery” by W J Miles published circa 1885; and Racing Illustrated, published 1895, (a lot).

Provenance: By family descent, who have the following reminiscences regarding their step-grandfather William Ward and the Crafton Stud.

“The young Princess Elizabeth would visit Crafton to see the horses. She would have tea with my step grandfather in their house. My Step-mother and her brother and sister would sit on the stairs peeking through the bannisters to see the Princess. My step-mother joined the WRNS during the war, she worked at one point in Naval Intelligence in London with Ian Fleming, Michael Wilding and even Churchill. In 1939 they knew Blue Peter was going to win the Derby. My step-mother came from a very Edwardian family and was not the type to place a bet but she persuaded her WRNS friends to back Blue Peter. He won! The Royal Coaches we see for royal occasions were kept in the stables at Crafton during the war. My step mother and her sister would sit in the coaches and wave. I assume only the horses could see them!”.