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Welcome to the twenty-fourth edition of the
College of Arms Newsletter, which is produced every
three months and sent automatically and free to
those who subscribe by entering their name and
e-mail address in our
mailing list. Other benefits for
those who submit their names in this way include
advance notice of College of Arms events, relevant
publications, and media appearances. If you wish to
remove your name from this list, to send the
newsletter on to someone else, or send a
genealogical or heraldic enquiry to the College,
please make use of the links listed at the top of
this page.
All
images are the copyright of the College of Arms. |
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Thomas Woodcock, L.V.O., D.L.,
the present Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, will begin his reign as
Garter Principal King of Arms on 1 April 2010, in the place of Sir
Peter Gwynn-Jones, KCVO, who retired on 31 March. He will also be
appointed as Genealogist of the Order of the Bath, and Inspector of
Regimental Colours. Here the future Garter introduces himself and
describes his career:
 “I
came to work at the College in June 1975 as a research assistant to
Sir Anthony Wagner, Garter, after taking the Bar exams. The
immediate reason for this was that Sir Anthony had sat next to my
father at a lunch and asked him about his pedigree, to which my
father replied that his father and his son knew more than he did.
Sir Anthony suggested that I should come to see him, which I did,
and was offered employment as a research assistant. I had been
interested in genealogy since childhood and my grandfather, also
named Thomas Woodcock, wrote and edited more than one volume for the
Chetham Society. His grandfather, another Thomas Woodcock, was also
of antiquarian bent, so there was a tradition of interest in
genealogy and heraldry amongst my ancestors. My father said that if
I qualified as a barrister he was happy for me to pursue any career;
I took the opportunity to work for Sir Anthony at the College before
being Called to the Bar as a member of the Inner Temple later in
1975.
“In
1978 I was appointed an Officer of Arms, as Rouge Croix Pursuivant.
I was subsequently promoted to Somerset Herald in 1982, before
becoming Norroy and Ulster King of Arms in 1997. In addition I have
been responsible for the College’s significant collection of
portraits and other pictures since 1987, and Librarian and in charge
of the Conservation Department since 1995. Outside the College, I
have served as Advisor on Naval Heraldry since 1996, and as a
Bencher of the Inner Temple since February 2010. I was appointed a
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in 1996; and in 2005 I
became a Deputy Lieutenant for Lancashire. I am a Fellow of the
Society of Antiquaries. My principal written works have been The
Oxford Guide to Heraldry (1988) and Heraldry in National
Trust Houses (2000) both with John Martin Robinson, Maltravers
Herald Extraordinary. I have also been one of the editors of The
Dictionary of British Arms, Medieval Ordinary, volumes I-III,
which have been published by the Society of Antiquaries between 1992
and 2009. I produced a book entitled Legal Habits, A Brief
Sartorial History of Wig, Robe and Gown (2003) for Ede &
Ravenscroft Ltd., and a recent booklet is Heraldry, Genealogy &
The 8th Lord Howard de Walden (2010). One particular
interest has been Peerage Claims and I acted for the claimant when
the Barony of Grey of Codnor was brought out of abeyance in 1989
terminating an abeyance which commenced in 1496. A different but
interesting Peerage Claim was to the Earldom of Portland after the
death of the last Duke of Portland in 1990.”
At
the end of March the present Garter King of Arms will retire from
the College of Arms. Thus concludes a long and distinguished career
at the College, which began with his appointment as a research
assistant to Colin Cole, then Windsor Herald, in 1966. He became
Bluemantle Pursuivant in 1973, and was promoted to Lancaster Herald
in 1982. He was appointed by The Queen to the position of Garter in
1995 following the retirement of Sir Conrad Swan.
During his career at the College of Arms, Sir Peter Gwynn-Jones has
been Inspector of Regimental Colours, as well as Genealogist to the
Orders of the Bath, St Michael and St George, and St John. He was
made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the New
Year’s Honours, 2010.
The Armorial of Haiti – 100% of proceeds to go to disaster relief:
In May 2007 the College of Arms published
The Armorial of Haiti. Symbols of Nobility in the Reign of Henry
Christophe, edited
by Clive Cheesman, with a historical introduction by Marie-Lucie
Vendryes and a preface by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean, Governor
General of Canada. The volume presents a complete edition and
reproduction of an extraordinary item from the College’s collections
of heraldic manuscripts, with a full commentary and an appendix of
supporting historical documents.
Following the calamitous earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince and
its area on 12 January 2010 the College of Arms has agreed that all
future proceeds from sales of the book will be donated to the
international relief and recovery effort. On each sale of the book
at its cover price of £45, something very close to that sum will be
held for the benefit of a recognized charity working towards the
international relief effort. Copies can be bought on-line through
the College website at
http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/Haiti.htm. They can also be
acquired in person at the College of Arms in London.
 A
very small selection of those recently receiving grants or
exemplifications from the English Kings of Arms:
CARLSON,
John Herbert, of Weston, Massachusetts, USA. Honorary Arms, Crest
and Badge. Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms.
14/8/2009. College reference: Grants 174/168.
The
Badge (illustrated right) is blazoned: Four Oars couped and
conjoined in cross Azure buttoned Or.
CLARKE,
Gary Jack, of the London Borough of Barnet. Arms and Crest. Garter
and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 31/1/2009. College reference: 174/216.
DUNNE,
Sir Thomas Raymond, of Leintwardine, Herefordshire, KG, KCVO.
Supporters. Garter King of Arms. 17/7/2009. College reference:
Grants 174/172.
EISENBERG,
Zef, of St Peter Port, Island of Guernsey. Arms, Crest and Badge.
Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 16/9/2009. College reference:
Grants 174/208.
GIBBS,
Philip Keith Charles, of Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset. Arms and Crest.
Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 12/5/2009. College reference:
Grants 174/180.
WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF GLASS-SELLERS AND LOOKING-GLASS MAKERS OF
LONDON.
Arms, Crest and Supporters. Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster
Kings of Arms. 25/7/2009. College reference: Grants 174/182. Images
of the Arms, and a discussion of the significance of the design, is
provided by the Company’s website
here.
LAVENHAM PARISH COUNCIL.
Arms. Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms.
28/8/2009. College reference: Grants 174/198.
 Illustrated
right are the Arms and Crest of Anil Kumar
MALHOTRA, of the London
Borough of Harrow, which were granted with three Badges by Letters
Patent of Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms dated 30 June 2009.
College reference: Grants 174/157.
The
Arms are blazoned: Azure a Roundel Argent between three Trillium
Flowers Or.
Crest: upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Azure Issuant from
Flames proper a Triple-headed Phoenix displayed Argent each neck
gorged with a plain Collar attached thereto a Chain fracted and
intertwined Or. Mantling Gules lined Argent.
Badges (not illustrated): first: In front of a Roundel Argent a
Griffin segreant per pale Or and Azure queued Or forelegs and claws
Gules holding in the dexter forefoot three Peacock’s Feathers
proper. Second: In front of a Roundel Argent a Bengal Tiger passant
proper armed Or holding in the dexter forefoot three Peacock’s
Feathers also proper. Third: In front of a Roundel Argent a Cornish
Chough wings elevated and addorsed Sable beaked and legged Gules
holding in the beak three Peacock’s Feathers proper.
MENDOROS,
Dennis George, of Foulridge, Lancashire, OBE, DL. Arms, Crest and
Badge. Garter and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms. 2/2/2009. College
reference: Grants 174/194.
SCRIVENER,
Brian Anthony, of Lauzun, Department of Lot et Garonne, France.
Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster
Kings of Arms. 14/8/2009. College reference: Grants 174/190.
SQUIRE,
Julian Francis, of Sherston, Wiltshire. Arms, Crest and Badge.
Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 1/6/2009. College reference:
Grants 174/142.
WEWER,
Christian, of Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester, DL. Honorary Arms,
Crest and Badge. Garter and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms.
4/3/2009. College reference: Grants 174/155.
Haiti Art Relief Fund:
Clive Cheesman, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant, addressed an evening
meeting on 11 March at Amber Entertainment, London on the subject of
the historical links between Britain and Haiti,
held to raise funds for this
charity.
The Mystery Files:
an episode of this series, exploring a variety of historical
mysteries, was broadcast on 2 February 2010 on the National
Geographic channel. It was devoted to the mystery of the
Princes in the Tower – the fate of Edward V and his brother
Richard of York, who placed in the Tower of London by Richard III
and then heard of no more. The contemporary evidence relating to
their fate includes an important manuscript in the College’s
archives, which was presented by Peter O’Donoghue, Bluemantle
Pursuivant. This is a set of annals of London life, recording events
and rumours as they arose.
Haslemere in Stitches:
on 24 March Clive Cheesman, Rouge Dragon, attended the unveiling of
a rug hand-woven using traditional techniques, bearing the Arms of
Haslemere Town Council. The ceremony took place in the presence of
local dignitaries. Details of the rug and associated events may be
seen
here.
Who Do You Think You Are? Live:
the
College of Arms was represented at this annual genealogical
exhibition, held at Olympia, London, on 26-28 February 2010. The
show provided an opportunity to inform and educate interested
members of the public about heraldry, genealogy and the activities
of the College of Arms. Some of our heraldic artists were also
present at the show to demonstrate their skill and artistry.
The Evesham World Map:
illustrated left is a detail of this medieval map of the
world, which is one of the treasures of the College’s archives. The
map, which dates from the late fourteenth century, includes images
of Eden and Jerusalem (shown here), but also shows Britain in
considerable detail. The vellum membrane on which this map appears,
is now part of a lengthy fifteenth-century pedigree tracing the
ancestry of King Henry VI and Sir Ralph Boteler, K.G., Lord Sudeley.
The
map will form part of an exhibition at the British Library in
London, called Magnificent Maps: Power Propaganda and Art.
This will run from 30 April to 19 September 2010; details can be
seen
here.
DAVENPORT:
a pedigree of four generations shows a descent from Ormus Neville
Talbot Davenport of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
(born 1904). Connected with FOOKS, BELLI, BUREAU and SERVAGE.
Cross-referenced to Norfolk 50/158. College reference: Surrey 32/17.
WOODD:
a pedigree of four generations descends to the present day from
Vernon Charles Woodd of New Zealand (born 1911). Connected with
MACKAY and PULFORD. Cross-referenced to Surrey 29/350. College
reference: Surrey 32/11. |
