Historic Spencer-Churchill necklace on sale for first time ever
The gold necklace belonged to the 7th Duke of Marlborough’s wife and carries the initials of seven of their children

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High-end jewellery shop Hancocks London has announced that the famous Spencer-Churchill necklace will be on the market for the first time in history for £125,000.
The necklace derives its name from John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough, who in 1875 created it for his wife Frances.
Described as an “intricate gold collar”, it is made of eight oval lockets surrounded by a floral wreath and white bows. The necklace carries the initials of seven of their 11 children while the eighth locket displays a ducal coronet set with tiny gems.
The Spencer-Churchill family enjoyed close links with the British Royal family and Frances was a childhood friend of Queen Victoria which explains why the necklace links some of the 19th and 20th centuries’ most notable figures, including Queen Victoria herself, the Duke of Wellington and Winston Churchill and even the US Vanderbilt family.
It will be the first time that the Spencer-Churchill necklace will be available to buy on the open market given it has been in the family since its creation. And Mayfair’s oldest family jewellers, Hancocks London, which itself is 174-years-old, is handling the sale of this family jewel.
Speaking on the sale, Guy Burton, managing director at Hancocks London, said: “The Spencer-Churchills were at the very heart of British society and politics for two centuries and this piece, and the names it carries, reflect their status and influence in a way almost no other family dynasty could match.
“We feel very privileged to bring this piece to the open market and expect an enormous amount of interest given its provenance.”
At the moment, Hancocks London is looking into the history archives to find out why the couple’s fifth daughter, Lady Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill, was for some reason either not included or her locket was removed.
Burton concluded: “America. As the Spencer-Churchill family are related to the Spencer family of Althorp, the necklace also links the late Diana Princess of Wales and our future King, Prince William, both families being descended from John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough.
“It is a wonderful collectors’ piece and you can imagine it being on show in a museum given its historical significance. This really is a once-in-a-lifetime piece to acquire.”