It's a mystery (to me) Old Naval College ?
 

Hey :)

Has anyone got any idea what this is???
I have been told it is a merchant Navy crown but
Lord Anson may be a connection?

Anyways any ideas or help would be appreciated

Royal Naval College I believe.

Hi Leigh :)

I found this, so do you think it's from the Greenwich college?

https://www.barnebys.com/realized-pr...key-EpC86M5RuH

T X

Without knowing anything about RN or other naval buttons I'd say it is the old Royal Naval College at Greenwich although I don't know who at the college would've worn it, one of the naval experts is bound to know exactly what it is and when worn.

Thank you Leigh :)

T X

It's a mystery (to me) Old Naval College?
 

Remembering my schoolboy Latin 'Collegium Regium' means King's College or Royal College.

The literal translation of 'Collegium Regium Navale' is 'King's College in dock'!

The crown featured on the button is the Naval Crown. This is featured on many maritime items ranging from merchant navy buttons to Royal Navy ship's badges. It is of purely maritime significance and does not signify that it was attached specifically to something of Merchant or Royal Navy origins.

The Royal Hospital at Greenwich closed in the late-1860s (1869 from memory) and the buildings lay empty for a few years before reopening as the Royal Naval College in the early-1870s. I have come across buttons linked specifically to the the Royal Hospital but I have never come across any special buttons for the Royal Naval College.

I will check my records and get back to you.

Pete

It's a mystery (to me) Old Naval College?
 

Right I've checked my records and I can confirm the identity of these buttons.

Firstly, the Royal Naval Hospital closed in 1869 and the site reopened as the Royal Naval College in 1873.

These are indeed livery buttons worn by the domestic staff at the Royal Naval College. Some of these buttons were silver-plated but I don't know if they all were originally.

The identity of these buttons has been confirmed by the National Maritime Museum (see illustration below).

The makers mark of Pitt & Co was in use between 1895 and 1973.

I obviously read about them at some time as I made notes about them but I had completely forgotten about them!

Pete

Pete that is amazballs :)

Thank you very much and Leigh :)

T X

it would be interesting to know what sizes these came in im assuming the one pictured is smaller 15/16/17mm?

Hi Lazio :)

This one is 15.5mm

T X