Coat of arms of Colchester

Last updated

Coat of arms of Colchester
Coat of Arms of Colchester.svg
Armiger Colchester City Council
Crest On a Wreath of the Colours issuant from a Chaplet of Roses alternately Gules and Argent a Female Figure habited Azure and Veiled Argent crowned Or holding a Passion Cross Or
Shield Gules four Pieces of Wood raguly conjoined in a cross proper each side arm transfixed with a Nail palewise Sable ensigned by an Ancient Crown Or and that in base enfiling a like Crown and transfixed by a like Nail in bend
Supporters To the dexter a Roman Centurion habited and holding in his dexter hand a Short Sword proper and to the sinister an Oyster Fisherman habited and holding in his sinister hand a Length of Rope proper each standing on a Compartment comprising a Grassy Mound proper and an Estuary barry wavy Argent and Azure
Motto 'No cross, no crown'

The coat of arms of Colchester was first granted to the city by Henry V in 1413. [1]

Contents

The shield is more commonly used than the full arms. [2] There are two versions of the arms that are commonly seen. [3] The first was in use from around 1550 to 1915; the other the intervening periods between 1413 and present.

Historic arms

The "raven" of Colchester

Raven seal appended to a deed of the year 1341 The 'Raven' of Colchester.jpg
Raven seal appended to a deed of the year 1341

The oldest known device associated with Colchester is the raven, found on seals dating back to the 11th or 12th century. It continued to be used for many centuries as a symbol of the Port of Colchester. It has been suggested that the raven may have been derived from a symbol of the Danes when they ruled the area. [4]

Post-Reformation arms (c. 1550—1915)

Arms of the Borough of Colchester (Ancient Form).jpg
Ancient form of the arms, as emblazoned on the Borough Charter, 1413
Arms of the Borough of Colchester.jpg
Arms of the borough as recorded at the Collage of Arms, 1558

This shield, which can be blazoned as Gules, two staves raguly and couped argent, one in pale, surmounted by another in fess between two ducal coronets in chief Or the bottom part of the shaft enfiled with a ducal coronet of the last [3] or alternatively Gules two silver ragged staves joined in the form of a cross, its arms and foot pierced by Passion Nails; and three golden crowns, the bottom encircling the foot of the cross [5] was in use until 1915. It had been in use since at least 1558, [6] where it was mentioned in the heralds' visitation of that year. [6] It is thought to have been created by heralds wishing to remove the reference to a revered relic during the Reformation. [7]

It was in 1915 that the Corporation of Colchester revised the arms of Colchester based on a report by Alderman Guerney Benham. [3] It decided to revert the arms to the original form that were granted to Colchester by Henry V in 1413, [2] [3] [8] as described on Letters Patent "and also employed upon the Common Seal of the Borough, adopted at about the same date and used continuously as the borough seal for over four centuries" [9] The change was supported by the 'advice of many eminent heralds'. [8] Among the changes was the firm addition of the nails and the change of the wood from argent (white) to vert (green). [7]

Current arms (1415 - c. 1550, 1915 - present)

The current arms, which are officially assigned to Colchester Borough Council by the College of Arms, [2] were first used after being granted by King Henry V in 1413, [2] [8] when the town was granted a new charter. [10] These early arms featured inscriptions like QUAM CRUX INSIGNIT HELENAM COLCHESTERIA GIGNET [7] and COLCESTRIENSIS SUM BURGI COMMUNE SIGILLUM. [7] The shield shows a cross, with three crowns, one of each 'arm' and one encircling the foot of the cross, each supported by a nail. [7] There was, and is, also question over whether there should be three nails or four. [7] The shield can be blazoned Gules four Pieces of Wood raguly conjoined in a cross proper each side arm transfixed with a Nail palewise Sable ensigned by an Ancient Crown Or and that in base enfiling a like Crown and transfixed by a like Nail in bend. [2]

In 1976, [6] the coat of arms was extended with the addition of a crest, a torse of red and white, topped with roses of the same colours rising from which is a female figure, holding a Cross, which can be blazoned On a Wreath of the Colours issuant from a Chaplet of Roses alternately Gules and Argent a Female Figure habited Azure and Veiled Argent crowned Or holding a Passion Cross Or.; supporters of a fisherman in the sinister (observer's right) and a Roman soldier in the dexter (observer's left). The motto No Cross, No Crown was added. [6] These additions are not generally used. [2] As of 1989, these arms had never been used. [6] Until this standardisation, the official description included detail on the type of ragules on the wood and the direction of the wood. [7]

The current arms are a direct reference to Saint Helena, the patron saint of Colchester, [10] believed to have been born there. [7] The charter is the inscription Sancta Elana nata fuit in Colcestria. Mater Constani fuit et Sanctam Crucem invenit Elana (St. Helen was born in Colchester. Helen was the mother of Constantine and she found the Holy Cross). [7] The cross is believed to be the True Cross, [2] [11] [5] which Saint Helena is supposed to have found. The red background represents the blood of Christ; [2] [5] the nail the Holy Nails. [2] [5] [12] The crowns are representative of the crowns of the Magi, [2] the bodies of whom Saint Helena is supposed to have found. [7] The four shafts are joined in a fylfot, a symbol of good fortune. [2]

When Colchester United was founded in 1937, it adopted this coat of arms as the club badge. [13] This was changed in 1972 after a disagreement with the Council over use of the arms. [13] Colchester Town also used these arms as their badge. [13]

The Bishop of Colchester bears no arms. [11]

Banner of Arms of the Borough of Colchester Colchester Flag.png
Banner of Arms of the Borough of Colchester

The modern coat of arms of Colchester should not be confused with that of Nottingham, which, apart from being supported by two royal stags instead of a fisherman and Roman soldier, differs only in the absence of the nails on the cross. This arms is described as Gules issuant from the base a ragged Cross couped proper between two Ducal Coronets in chief Or the lower limb of the Cross enfiled with a like Coronet, but, as with Colchester, the cross is usually shown in green. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saltire</span> Heraldic and vexillogical symbol in the form of a diagonal cross

A saltire, also called Saint Andrew's Cross or the crux decussata, is a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross. The word comes from the Middle French sautoir, Medieval Latin saltatoria ("stirrup").

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Sweden</span>

The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Sweden is the arms of dominion of the King of Sweden. It has a greater and a lesser version. The shield displays the "Three Crowns of Sweden" quartering the "Lion of Bjälbo", with an inescutcheon overall of the House of Vasa impaling the House of Bernadotte.

In heraldry, the field (background) of a shield can be divided into more than one area, or subdivision, of different tinctures, usually following the lines of one of the ordinaries and carrying its name. Shields may be divided this way for differencing or for purposes of marshalling, or simply for style. The lines that divide a shield may not always be straight, and there is a system of terminology for describing patterned lines, which is also shared with the heraldic ordinaries.

In heraldry, an ordinary is one of the two main types of charges, beside the mobile charges. An ordinary is a simple geometrical figure, bounded by straight lines and running from side to side or top to bottom of the shield. There are also some geometric charges known as subordinaries, which have been given lesser status by some heraldic writers, though most have been in use as long as the traditional ordinaries. Diminutives of ordinaries and some subordinaries are charges of the same shape, though thinner. Most of the ordinaries are theoretically said to occupy one-third of the shield; but this is rarely observed in practice, except when the ordinary is the only charge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Toronto</span> Official coat of arms of the City of Toronto

The coat of arms of Toronto is a heraldic symbol used to represent the city Toronto. Designed by Robert Watt, the Chief Herald of Canada at the time, for the City of Toronto after its amalgamation in 1998. The arms were granted by the Canadian Heraldic Authority on 11 January 1999.

In heraldry, a torse or wreath is a twisted roll of fabric laid about the top of the helmet and the base of the crest. It has the dual purpose of masking the join between helm and crest, and of holding the mantling in place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of the Netherlands</span>

The coat of arms of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was originally adopted in 1815 and later modified in 1907. The arms are a composite of the arms of the former Dutch Republic and the arms of the House of Nassau, it features a checkered shield with a lion grasping a sword in one hand and a bundle of arrows in the other and is the heraldic symbol of the monarch and the country. The monarch uses a version of the arms with a mantle while the government of the Netherlands uses a smaller version without the mantle (cloak) or the pavilion, sometimes only the shield and crown are used. The components of the coats of arms were regulated by Queen Wilhelmina in a royal decree of 10 July 1907, affirmed by Queen Juliana in a royal decree of 23 April 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Sunderland</span>

The coat of arms of Newcastle is the official heraldic arms of the City of Sunderland in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swedish heraldry</span> Heraldic achievements in Sweden

Swedish heraldry encompasses heraldic achievements in modern and historic Sweden. Swedish heraldic style is consistent with the German-Nordic heraldic tradition, noted for its multiple helmets and crests which are treated as inseparable from the shield, its repetition of colours and charges between the shield and the crest, and its scant use of heraldic furs. Because the medieval history of the Nordic countries was so closely related, their heraldic individuality developed rather late. Swedish and Finnish heraldry have a shared history prior to the Diet of Porvoo in 1809; these, together with Danish heraldry, were heavily influenced by German heraldry. Unlike the highly stylized and macaronic language of English blazon, Swedish heraldry is described in plain language, using only Swedish terminology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Denmark</span>

The coat of arms of Denmark has a lesser and a greater version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portuguese heraldry</span>

Portuguese heraldry encompasses the modern and historic traditions of heraldry in Portugal and the Portuguese Empire. Portuguese heraldry is part of the larger Iberian tradition of heraldry, one of the major schools of heraldic tradition, and grants coats of arms to individuals, cities, Portuguese colonies, and other institutions. Heraldry has been practiced in Portugal at least since the 12th century, however it only became standardized and popularized in the 16th century, during the reign of King Manuel I of Portugal, who created the first heraldic ordinances in the country. Like in other Iberian heraldic traditions, the use of quartering and augmentations of honor is highly representative of Portuguese heraldry, but unlike in any other Iberian traditions, the use of heraldic crests is highly popular.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Leeds</span>

The Coat of arms of Leeds City Council derives its design from the seventeenth century. In 1662 the Borough of Leeds received a new charter which created the office of mayor, and the arms seems to date from about this time as they incorporate part of the arms of the first mayor. These arms were recorded at the heraldic visitation of Yorkshire in 1666. By the time that the borough was reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, silver owls had been added both as crest above the shield, and as supporters on either side. These additions were not authorised, however, and in 1920 application was made by Leeds County Borough Council to the College of Arms to have these additions officially granted. In the following year the grant of crest and supporters was made, with the colouring of the owls altered to "proper", or natural colourings. Gold ducal coronets were added to the supporters for further heraldic difference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Wigan</span>

The coat of arms of Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council was granted by the College of Arms in 1974.

In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb to blazon means to create such a description. The visual depiction of a coat of arms or flag has traditionally had considerable latitude in design, but a verbal blazon specifies the essentially distinctive elements. A coat of arms or flag is therefore primarily defined not by a picture but rather by the wording of its blazon. Blazon is also the specialized language in which a blazon is written, and, as a verb, the act of writing such a description. Blazonry is the art, craft or practice of creating a blazon. The language employed in blazonry has its own vocabulary, grammar and syntax, which becomes essential for comprehension when blazoning a complex coat of arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Extremadura</span>

The coat of arms of the Extremadura is described in the Title I of the Spanish Law 4 of June 3, 1985, the Law of the coat of arms, flag and regional day of Extremadura.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crosses in heraldry</span> Cross symbols used in heraldry

A number of cross symbols were developed for the purpose of the emerging system of heraldry, which appeared in Western Europe in about 1200. This tradition is partly in the use of the Christian cross an emblem from the 11th century, and increasingly during the age of the Crusades. Many cross variants were developed in the classical tradition of heraldry during the late medieval and early modern periods. Heraldic crosses are inherited in modern iconographic traditions and are used in numerous national flags.

Coats of arms and seals of the County and Duchy of Cornwall, the Diocese of Truro, and of Cornish boroughs and towns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of the City of London</span> Coat of arms of city in Greater London

The coat of arms of the City of London is the official coat of arms of the City of London, England, which is one of a number of cities and boroughs in Greater London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of the London Borough of Camden</span>

The coat of arms of the London Borough of Camden were granted on 10 September 1965. The borough was formed by the merger of three former boroughs, namely the Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead, the Metropolitan Borough of Holborn and the Metropolitan Borough of St. Pancras, from whose arms elements were utilised in the arms of the new borough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Oxford</span>

The coat of arms of Oxford is the official heraldic arms of Oxford, England, used by Oxford City Council.

References

  1. ↑ "The Borough Arms". www.colchester.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Essex: Colchester Borough Council". Civic Heraldry of England and Wales. Robert Young. Archived from the original on 3 February 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1915). The book of public arms : a complete encyclopædia of all royal, territorial, municipal, corporate, official, and impersonal arms. Colchester: Benham and Company. pp.  194.
  4. ↑ Benham, W. Gurney (William Gurney) (1916). Essex Borough arms and the traditional arms of Essex and the arms of Chelmsford diocese. Colchester : Benham. p. 8. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Scott-Giles, C.W. (1953) [1933]. Civic Heraldry of England and Wales.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Arms, Seals, Insignia and Plate". A History of the County of Essex: Volume 9. British History Online. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Benham, W. Gurney (1916). Essex Borough Arms and the traditional Arms of Essex and the Arms of Chelmsford Diocese. Colchester: Benham and Company. pp.  1.
  8. 1 2 3 "Revival of Ancient Borough Arms of Colchester". Essex County Standard. 6 March 1915. p. 7.
  9. ↑ Quoted in Book of Public Arms, source unclear
  10. 1 2 "A Brief History of Colchester". Local Histories. Tim Lambert. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  11. 1 2 Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1915). The book of public arms : a complete encyclopædia of all royal, territorial, municipal, corporate, official, and impersonal arms. Colchester: Benham and Company. pp.  196.
  12. ↑ Richard Britnell. "Colchester in the Early Fiftheenth Century". Wards, Parishes and Gilds. Durham University. Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  13. 1 2 3 "Colchester United F.C. Crest and Club History". Football Crests. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  14. ↑ "Colchester Venues - Town Hall Indoor Spaces Image".
  15. ↑ "Town Hall from outside - Picture of Colchester Town Hall - Tripadvisor". www.tripadvisor.com. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "Colchester Town hall". Mapio.net. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  17. ↑ "Nottingham (City Council)". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.