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October 2009 Newsletter (No. 22)

College of Arms manuscript A17
College of Arms manuscript A17 © College of Arms

Heraldic Badges in England and Wales: this very significant contribution to heraldic scholarship by Michael Powell Siddons, Wales Herald Extraordinary, has been published for the Society of Antiquaries by the Boydell Press. This monumental work in four volumes fills a serious gap in the literature of heraldry, providing a comprehensive overview of the subject from the fourteenth to the early seventeenth century. It may be ordered from the publisher here.

Illustrated right is a page from the College of Arms manuscript A17, bearing a painting of two standards and Arms and dating from circa 1513. Each standard features the cross of St George, with on the fly, a beast between a scattering of smaller badges. The upper standard is that of George (Nevill), Baron Bergavenny, and bears the pied bull of the Nevills between interlaced double staples. The lower standard is that of Walter (Devereux), Baron Ferrers of Chartley, later Viscount Hereford, and bears a talbot between the badges of a 'french wife's hood' and the Ferrers badge of a horseshoe. The motto is LOIALLE SUYS (I am loyal).

Welcome to the twenty-second edition of the College of Arms Newsletter

News

Repairs and redecorations: on Thursday 5 February a fire damaged one wing of the College of Arms (see newsletter 20). Although only three rooms were directly attacked by fire, some twenty rooms in the west wing of the College were affected – a further three by water, and fourteen by smoke.

All the smoke-damaged rooms have been repaired and redecorated and are back in normal use. Repairs to the remaining six rooms, roof and staircase have commenced; this work will finish in December 2009. In addition to a large scaffolding structure on the west wing, the College's courtyard is now occupied by a temporary cabin and the contractors' enclosure. This makes parking and the delivery of both College supplies and building materials a logistical challenge.

The College's building was erected after the Fire of London in the late seventeenth century, and is a very rare survivor from that period in the City of London. Its importance means that the College Officers and staff have seen many traditional building skills being used, most notably the replacement of lathe and plaster ceilings. The insurers have also been very supportive in ensuring that the repairs are completed to the highest standards, whilst remaining sympathetic to the building's heritage and status.
In addition to the fire repairs, the opportunity is also being taken to undertake some necessary brickwork repairs that have become apparent as a result of an inspection made possible whilst the scaffolding is in place.

Recent Grants of Arms

A very small selection of those recently receiving grants or exemplifications from the English Kings of Arms:

Arms granted to William Henry SLINGERIllustrated left are the Arms granted to William Henry SLINGER of Pendleton, Lancashire, by Letters Patent of Garter and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms dated 12 February 2009.

The Arms are blazoned: Per fess Or and Azure a Fret the centre point surmounted by a Rose all counterchanged.

The Crest is Upon a Helm with a Wreath Or and Azure Upon a Woolpack Azure a Griffin couchant wings elevated and addorsed Or. Mantled Azure doubled Or.

The Badge (not shown) is blazoned A Woolpack Azure charged with a Martlet Or.

College reference: Grants 174/54.

BRADFORD, Barbara Taylor, of the City of New York, State of New York, USA, OBE. Arms and Badge. Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms. 16/2/2009. College reference: Grants 174/62.

THE CITY UNIVERSITY. Arms and Crest. Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms. 30/3/2009. College reference: Grants 174/93.

DRABBLE, James Anthony, of the City of Westminster; and to his brothers John Calver Drabble of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and Simon William Drabble of Over Wallop, Hampshire. Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 25/7/2008. College reference: Grants 174/60.

EUTICK, Malvin Leonard, of Northbridge, New South Wales, Australia, OAM. Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms. 27/2/2009. College reference: Grants 174/79.

GLYNDŴR UNIVERSITY. Arms, Crest and Supporters. Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms. 16/2/2009. College reference: Grants 174/97. The Letters Patent were presented to the University on its Inauguration Day, 28 February 2009, by David White, Somerset Herald, following a procession through the streets of Wrexham.

GODFREY, Patrick Marcel, of Medmenham, Buckinghamshire. Arms and Crest. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 12/2/2009. College reference: Grants 174/48.

HENDY, Peter Gerard, of Bath, Somerset, CBE. Arms and Crest. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 30/1/2009. College reference: Grants 174/44.

HORROCKS, Peter Leslie, of Long Ditton, Surrey. Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 6/3/2009. College reference: Grants 174/77.

JUDGE, Igor (Judge), Baron, of Draycote, Warwickshire. Arms, Crest, Badge and Supporters. Garter King of Arms. 12/3/2009. College reference: Grants 174/74.

KENNEDY, Sir Francis, of Eccleston, Lancashire, KCMG, CBE. Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms. 26/1/2009. College reference: Grants 174/38.

LAWRENCE, Martin, of Blakesley, Northamptonshire. Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 16/2/2009. College reference: Grants 174/56.

PHILLIS, Sir Robert Weston, of Wargrave, Royal County of Berkshire, knight. Arms and Crest. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 20/2/2009. College reference: Grants 174/52.

Arms granted to Dame Sonia Rosemary Susan PROUDMANIllustrated left are the Arms granted to Dame Sonia Rosemary Susan PROUDMAN, of the London Borough of Southwark, DBE. Arms. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 30/7/2009. College reference: Grants 174/178.

The Arms are: Gules a Cross voided throughout Or surmounted by a Peacock in his pride proper perched upon a Cartwheel Argent.

SPROULE, James Richard, of the City of Westminster. Arms, Crest and Badge. Limitations of grant extended to the other descendants of his late grandfather, Robert Edwin Sproule of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 7/12/2008. College reference: Grants 174/83.

TRAINER, Martin Andrew, of Southgate, West Glamorgan. Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 20/1/2009. College reference: Grants 174/36.

Appearances

Orders, Medals and Heralds: William Hunt, Windsor Herald, spoke on this subject at the annual dinner of the Orders and Medals Research Society on 18 September at the Royal Air Force Club, London.

Who Do You Think You Are?: Peter O'Donoghue appeared on an episode of this series broadcast on 14 September 2009 in the Republic of Ireland, on the television channel RTE 1; the episode traced the ancestry of television presenter Ryan Tubridy, which included pedigrees of the Dolman, Metham and Constable recusant families of Yorkshire held at the College of Arms. Details of the programme can be seen here.

Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers of London: William Hunt presented Letters Patent granting Arms to this Livery Company, at a dinner at Stationers Hall in London, on 23 September 2009.

Heraldry Course at University of Dundee

Heraldry Course at University of Dundee: Clive Cheesman and Peter O'Donoghue, Rouge Dragon and Bluemantle respectively, are the joint authors and tutors of a course covering the history, terminology and practice of heraldry. This course provides a detailed and thorough study of the subject for both beginners, and those with experience of heraldry alike. The heraldry module is a 13-week distance learning module delivered online in a fully supported learning environment. It can be taken on its own, simply as a leisure interest. It can also be taken for continuing professional development, as part of a Postgraduate Certificate in Family and Local History, or as part of the University of Dundee's Masters degree in Archives and Records Management. More information can be found on the Centre for Archives and Information Studies website www.dundee.ac.uk/cais or by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Recently Recorded Pedigrees

CORBET: a pedigree of thirteen generations is headed by Sir Vincent Corbet of Moreton Corbet, co. Salop, knight (died 1622/3), and by Frances his wife daughter of William Humphreston of Humphreston, co. Salop. The pedigree descends via their second son Robert Corbet to the present day. Cross-referenced to Arundel 4/6; C20/85 and 314; Bath Books 14/167; Peers 1/109. College reference: Norfolk 51/163.

DOWD: an entry has been recorded which gives the descent to the present day from James Dowd of Aston-iuxta-Mondrum, co. pal. Chester, and Hester his wife (both alive 1881). College reference: Surrey 32/1.

LENTAIGNE: a pedigree of five generations showing a descent to the present day from Sir John Francis Nicholas Lentaigne, otherwise John Francis O'Neill Lentaigne, of Tallaght, Co. Dublin, knight (born 1803). He was stated to be the grandson of Pierre François Lentaigne of Caen, Normandy. College reference: Norfolk 51/166.
SMILEY: a pedigree of four generations is headed by Sir Hugh Houston Smiley, sometime of Goring Heath, Oxfordshire, baronet (born 1905), and Nancy Elizabeth Louise Hardy his wife, daughter of Ernest Walter Hardy Beaton. Cross-referenced to Baronets 13/10 and 284; Surrey 29/177. College reference: Baronets 15/5.

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