A cased Edwardian 9 carat gold presentation key, Birmingham 1902 by Marples and Beasley

The bow engraved with a shield shape cartouche surmounted by a coronet, engraved to one side a ribbon tied bugle horn, the obverse engraved with a presentation inscription reading “Presented to Sir W H Hornby Bart M.P. on the opening of St Luke’s and St Peter’s Conservative club, April 25th 1903”. The bit engraved with foliate scrolls. Housed in original velvet case.

Key length – 11.5 cm / 4.5 inches

Weight – 31.2 grams / 1 ozt

Sir William Henry Hornby, 1st Baronet, DL (1841 – 1928), was an English industrialist and Conservative Party politician from Blackburn in Lancashire. He sat in the House of Commons from 1886 to 1910 but is notable for never speaking, or attempting to speak, in Parliament throughout his 24-year career there.