Siege of Gibraltar Candlestick

Gunmetal taken from Spanish cannon destroyed during the Siege of Gibraltar was used to make this candlestick.

Gibraltar resisted a 4 year siege by the Spanish and French forces during the Peninsular War and it was much celebrated afterwards in England. The candlestick bears the maker's name T. Warner to the underside along with Gunmetal, the material used. Tomson Warner had a foundry in Cripplegate and capitalized on the national fervor that Gibraltar inspired. This candlestick is engraved with foliate decoration, the symbols of war and the inscription Made of Spanish Cannon Destroyed at Gibraltar Sept. 14th 1782. Another candlestick by Warner, made of gunmetal from Gibraltar, is known but the reference to the battle is only to the underside of the base.

It is probable that the Spanish cannon used to make this candlestick were taken at the time of the Grand Assault which started on the 13th of September. The assault failed spectacularly after the Spanish floating battery used to attack by sea was sunk with aid of heated cannon balls. The batteries and many of the accompanying ships burst into flames. The 80,000 spectators who came to see the British beaten were disappointed. The cannon would have been taken as prize money and it was reported that the Governor was awarded £ 1875 after the siege, a very large sum at the time. Warner came from a family of brass founders and along with his brother John he took over his father's business on his death in 1762. The partnership split in 1780 with John moving to Fleet Street and Tomson staying at Cripplegate. Tomson himself was succeeded by his sons on his death in 1816.

An interesting candlestick for the story it tells. Dated 1782.