Sep-05 Issue - The Heraldry Society

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Crest of Bolton Alan Buckingham (June 2005 number of the Gazette) wrote about the connection between the elephant and castle devices of Bolton and Coventry. The first known depiction of this as Bolton's crest appears on Baines's map of the town dated 1824. There are two versions of its adoption by the trustees of Great Bolton ; first that the 'elite of Bolton adopted this splendid heraldic device in 1799 at the suggestion of Pitt Hewitt', one of the original trustees and the other, that it was the suggeston of Ralph Boardman solicitor and clerk of the trustees, who had an old seal bearing the device. Bolton was incorporated in 1838 and the borough continued to use this crest until 1890 when it was decided to apply for a grant of arms. The subscription list was opened in March and the letters patent were dated 5th June - such matters being effected more speedily than these days. Major Ottley Lane Perry, a former councillor was instrumental in the design and decided to commemorate Bolton's distant ecclesiastical link with Coventry by incorporating a mitre on the saddle cloth of the elephant. Incidentally is there any explanation of Coventry's elephant? Following the reorganisation of local government in 1974 the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton had a new grant of arms and the tenuous Coventry connection of the 10 CORRESPONDENCE mitre was replaced by the more appropriate Lancaster rose - see illustration in March 2005 number of the Gazette. Malcolm Howe Chelsea (formerly of Bolton) I refer to Alan Buckingham's letter in the June 2005 edition of the Gazette and think he is right to be suspicious of Wilfrid Scott-Giles' explanation for the elephant and castle in Bolton's arms. That is also Bolton Council's official explanation and was adopted by H Ellis Tomlinson in 1974, but I believe it was the rationalisation of an heraldic enthusiast - excouncillor Major Otley Perry, who suggested the design for the County Borough Council in 1890 - for an existing use. Certainly there was already a connection between Bolton and the elephant and castle as early as 1831, when two coaches on Bolton's first railway were named 'Elephant' and 'Castle'. A newspaper advertisement for a drapery business in 1838 included a shield with two bends surmounted by an elephant and castle on a torse, but when the newlycreated Municipal Borough Council obtained its first seal in 1839, the elephant and castle, on a mound, were on the shield. From then until Please send your letters or articles to the Editor of the Gazette at the following address: The Head’s House, Fred Nicholson School, Westfield Road, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 1JB or by e-mail to gazette@theheraldrysociety.com Visit the website at www.theheraldrysociety.com 1890 the Municipal Borough Council and then the County Borough Council used the elephant and castle in many different forms - on a shield, on a torse or as a free-floating object. In the discussions with the College of Arms in 1890 on the Council's application for a grant, the Council resolved that new arms should resemble as much as possible the device previously used and so the elephant and castle became the crest. On the creation of the Metropolitan Borough in 1974, the one feature of the old arms which council members insisted should be retained was the elephant and castle, so strong was its association with Bolton. My theory for that connection is that there was a representation of the elephant and castle in the mediaeval parish church since it was an important Christian symbol in view of the beneficent characteristics ascribed to it in the bestiaries, and that, therefore, it appears on the borough arms because of the strange sexual habits of mediaeval elephants. Incidentally, the elephant and castle borne on Fred Dibnah's coffin was borrowed from Bolton museum and is one of a pair of 19th century cast-iron elephants which
stood on the gate pillars of a bleachworks. It lay on the route to the Bolton Royal Infirmary and nervous children were distracted by being told that at midnight each New Year's Eve the elephants exchanged gateposts so that they had a slightly different view for the succeeding year. That's about as well evidenced as Perry's and my explanations. Mike Cresswell Seal Enquiry In reply to Frank Keirl's query the oldest surviving grant by an English officer of arms is that of William Bruges, Garter, to the Drapers' Company on 10 March 1439. The original still belongs to the Company. Not only is it signed and sealed by Bruges but very unusually for a patent also includes a notarial certificate of its execution. The seal is circular and 26mm in diameter. It displays Bruges' arms (checky of nine pieces [argent and sable] powdered with ermine spots countercoloured) and a crest of a woman's head in a hood or cowl. The legend reads SIGILLU[M] WILLIMI BRUGGES. There is nothing on the seal to denote Bruges' office as Garter. The seal is the same as that of his father, Richard, except that the legend on Richard's seal reads LANGCASTR ROY DE ARMYS. William's oval counter-seal or signet bears a crown which might well reflect his office as a king of arms. For further details and pictures see Hugh Stanford London, The Life of William Bruges, the first Garter King of Arms (Harleian Society, cxi and cxii [in one vol], for 1959 and 1960 (London, 1970)). The seals of both men are not the earliest known for an English officer of arms. That honour belongs to Peter, King of the Heralds, whose jurisdiction, like modern-day Norroy, extended northwards beyond the Trent. His seal, attached to a charter now in the British Library and dated 1276, bears three crowns, possibly a sign of his kingly office. Mr Keirl will find further details in Sir Anthony Wagner's Heralds of England (London, 1967), p.6. Adrian Ailes Arms of a Lady In answer to Bob Jones’s letter of the Gazette of June 2005 re the arms granted to my wife Shirley Greenwood. In Canada a lady’s personal arms have always been borne on a shield ever since 4th June 1988 when H. M. the Queen transferred the exercise of her heraldic prerogative to the Governor- General of Canada, thus fully patriating heraldry. Pure socialism I suppose !? Alexander Greenwood B.C. Canada ‘ABEL’ GRANT We have been approached by a lady who has the original grant of arms (1883) to Sir Frederick Augustus Abel. She would like to get in touch with his descendants. If one of them reads this, perhaps they would contact the Hon.Secretary. CANTERBURY HERALDRY WEEKEND Plans are well advanced for a Heraldry Weekend at Canterbury Christ Church University College in September next year. The subject will be "Heraldry and the Medieval Craftsman". It will be possible to book residential or non-residential places provided your booking is made early! Enclosed with this issue is a booking form for the event. Note that there is a discount of £10 per person for bookings received before 31st December 2005. IN MEMORIAM The death of David Sanctuary Howard was reported in the June edition of the "Gazette". There will be a Service of Thanksgiving for his life at 2.30 p.m. on Monday 7th November at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London SW1. Ann Bowen Calligraphy and Heraldic Illuminations 1 DOODS PLACE, DOODS ROAD REIGATE SURREY RH2 0NS TELEPHONE/FAX 01737 246171 All opinions expressed in the Heraldry Gazette are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Editor or of the Heraldry Society. E-mail the editor at gazette@theheraldrysociety.com 11
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Sep-05 Issue - The Heraldry Society

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