The Story
Celebrating the College's humble beginnings as a horse infirmary with just a handful of students, this silk twilly tells the story of its remarkable evolution into a world-leading institution, renowned for educating internationally recognised veterinarians and scientists.
The design is inspired by the legendary racehorse Eclipse, who dominated English racing between 1769 and 1770. Following his death at the age of 25, there was a desire to understand the secrets behind his extraordinary success. At the time, however, there was only one qualified veterinary surgeon in Britain: Charles Benoit Vial de St Bel.
Establishing a veterinary school had long been St Bel's ambition. With the support of the Odiham Agricultural Society, that vision became a reality in 1791 when the Veterinary College was founded in the parish of St Pancras, laying the foundations for what would become the Royal Veterinary College.
