Watch List notes:

Agriculture: The Salford Hundred Society for the Improvement of Agricultural (later the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society), silver prize medal, by Thomas Pingo, awarded 1789, Ceres with implements and results of agriculture, worker in field beyond, in ex. INST SALFORD HVND LANCASHIRE MDCCLXVII, rev. engraved details around and within corn wreath, TO JOHN LEIGH ESQR OF OUGHTERINGTON FOR FLOATING THE GREATES QUANTITY OF LAND, 48mm. (Eimer, Pingo 39), solder marks to top edge where suspension loop missing, nearly very fine, rare
The Leighs of Oughterington Hall, Oughterington, were well respected Cheshire land owners. The medal is named to John Leigh (1730-1806). Oughterington Hall was rebuilt in about 1810 and now forms the main building of Lymm Grammar School.
The Salford Hundred Agricultural Society was formed by Thomas Butterworth Bayley (1744-1802). "Floating Land" was the practice of diverting streams to flood pastures over the winter months, followed by draining in the spring, then pasturing livestock on the dried meadows. Floating provided early fodder for the increasing numbers of livestock. The procedure was expensive and was initially confined to the estates of wealthy and literate landowners.
(Estimate: 100-140 GBP)