Freedom box

Gold boxes containing the freedom of the City of London were presented especially to military and naval personnel as a reward for their endeavours. This box presented to William Carr Beresford was in recognition of his victory at the Battle of Alburera in 1811. Alburera was a fierce engagement in south-west Spain. The combined British-Portuguese-Spanish forces under Beresford defeated the French, but losses were heavy on both sides. The Freedom box was made to contain the Freedom previously voted to him in 1806 where he had been presented with an honorary sword for his brief capture of the city of Buenos Aires.

This box was supplied by Ayres & Bennett and made by John Ray and James Montague, goldworkers, in Denmark Street, Soho, London. It is made of gold in several colours. The finely chased design includes trophies of war, leaves and flowers. A central oval enamel on the lid is of the City of London coat of arms with motto against a deep blue background supplemented by two further small enamels on the same alignment on the side of the box with Beresford's initials and coat arms against the same blue colour. The inside lid is engraved with a full description of the Corporation of London's thanks and testimony to Lieutenant-General Sir William Carr Beresford.