Anglia knight
The Anglia knight is a sterling silver trophy that was originally commissioned by William III of the Netherlands in 1850 for the Falcon Club, a society that met once per year to compete in horse races, falconry and other sports. The trophy weighs over 700 troy ounces (22 kg, 48 lbs) and is modelled on the statue of Richard I outside the Palace of Westminster, but was intended to represent the Black Prince.
Arguably its most famous use was as the symbol of Anglia Television, the ITV station for the East of England, from launch in 1959 until 1988. Shortly before the station's launch, its chairman, Lord Townshend, had spotted the trophy at the Bond Street jewellers, Asprey & Co., and purchased it almost on impulse; Asprey's subsequently added the "Anglia" pennon to the lance.[1] After 1988, it made brief re-appearances in 1999 and 2009 to celebrate Anglia's 40th and 50th anniversaries respectively. The mascot for Anglian Home Improvements also depicts a knight on horseback.
The trophy is usually displayed at ITV Anglia reception in Norwich. It was on loan to the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell until 5 October 2019 as part of an exhibition celebrating life in Norwich in 1959.
References
- "Teletronic | The History of ITV - Anglia Television". www.teletronic.co.uk. Retrieved May 11, 2020.