THE GOLD ROOM AT WINDSOR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1834, 29 December 1888, Page 3

THE GOLD ROOM AT WINDSOR.

In "Windsor Castle there is one apartment called "The Gold Boom." in that room the gold plate is valued at £2,500,000. Much of this plate is anly silver gilt. # A good part, however, is of solid gold, and £2,500,000 is the estimated value of the whole, whether the material is gold or silver. It is said to be an irksome thing to get out and lay the plate for a State dinner, so enormous is the weight. It is handled and placed by the royal pages, some of whom have been over 50 years in service. One salver in the " Gold Room " is of immense size (sft in diameter) and was made from the gold snufE boxes alone of George IY., —those presented to him by various cities and towns, the lids and inscriptions curiously preserved on the surface in a kind of mosaic gold, and this salver is valued at £IO,OOO. Among other curious articles there is a dinner service of silver, presented to Queen Victoria's uncle, William IV., when he was Duke of Clarence, the donors being the merchants of Liverpool, in reward for royal service rendered to them by his advocacy of the slave trade. Forty years later, when he was king, he signed the Act of Parliament which abolished slavery in the British Dominions, as and from August 1, 1834. A candelabrum of gold, to be used for lighting the dinner table, which is among tbe plate at Windsor, i* so heavy that two strong men are required to lift it. Its value is £IO,OOO. There are 140 dozen of gold table and tea spoons, of six different patterns, and golden plates of various sizes sufficient to dine 250 persons.