Button # 117
Image submitted by John Sagi
Button 117_1a submitted by Dixon Pickup
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Button # 117a
28mm 'FIRMIN LONDON'
Button # 117_1a
28mm 'FIRMIN & SONS LONDON'
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Description
Royal Blackheath Golf Club - A fine Sheffield plated uniform button of the coatee
period c1800-1844, slightly convex and measuring 22.8mm. The obverse central reserve
displaying crossed long-nose clubs and two feathery balls; the outer circle having a dimpled
ground and the legend,
‘Blackheath Golf Club'. AD 1745. Vi et Arte’. The back mark is of
crucial importance being, ‘I. McGowan Gerrard St London.’ James McGowan (the ‘J’ was
latinised in the early period by both McGowan and Joseph Nutting) commenced business
as a button manufacturer at 38 King Street Soho (London) c1795. In 1802 he moved across
Charing Cross Road to Gerrard Street occupying premises variously at Nos. 31-33. John
McGowan is listed as the proprietor in 1811 followed by another James. Noted for their
high quality military and society buttons the company had moved to Fitzroy Square c1845
diversifying into ‘clothiers’ by 1852. The true date of the founding of the Royal Blackheath
Golf Club is still subject to debate, but at least the members of c1800-44 seemed certain of
1745. The club was granted the appellation ‘Royal’ in 1857.
Image submitted by Dixon Pickup
Information is from an article in
"The British Golf Collectors Society" written by Dixon Pickup.
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Royal Blackheath Golf Club
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