The Town, Parish or

Community Coat of Arms

Acquiring itUsing it

Protecting it

Clive Cheesmanrichmond@college-of-arms.gov.uk

SLCC Practitioners’ Conference 28/02/2014

SLCC Practitioners’ Conference 28/02/2014

Clive Cheesman richmond@college-of-arms.gov.uk

What is a Coat of Arms?

• Shield-based design• Graphic rather than verbal• Symbolic rather than representational• Capable of redrawing, restyling,

reinterpretation• Available for general display• Legal property of the grantee

SLCC Practitioners’ Conference 28/02/2014

Clive Cheesman richmond@college-of-arms.gov.uk

What is a Coat of Arms not?

• Medieval or warlike in character• An old-fashioned form of logo• In conflict with other forms of visual identity

SLCC Practitioners’ Conference 28/02/2014

Clive Cheesman richmond@college-of-arms.gov.uk

A brief history of municipal heraldry

• Oldest boroughs used seals• Other corporations using arms by 1400s• Towns and cities on continent from early date• Grants to incorporated towns and cities in

England from 1500: e.g. Gloucester 1538; Morpeth 1551; Eye 1592; Bideford 1609

• Quiet period in 1700s• Really takes off in 19th century• Boroughs in large numbers, esp. northern• Urban and rural district councils• First parish (Hammersmith) 1897

SLCC Practitioners’ Conference 28/02/2014

Clive Cheesman richmond@college-of-arms.gov.uk

The process of a grant of arms (1)

• Initial contact with College of Arms• Formal petition to Earl Marshal• Recounts corporate history• Drafted by College on your instructions• Signed by appropriate council representative

• Fees payable at outset• Shield and crest £11,050• Shield only (parish/town/community) £6325

SLCC Practitioners’ Conference 28/02/2014

Clive Cheesman richmond@college-of-arms.gov.uk

The process of a grant of arms (2)

• Design by us and you working together• Clear and simple• Different from all existing designs• Within British heraldic tradition, interpreted broadly

• Letters patent – the legal instrument conferring the coat of arms• Impressive charter-like document• Fine artwork and scrivening• Repeats corporate history from petition

• Interim and digital artwork supplied on request• But artwork can be sourced from anywhere

SLCC Practitioners’ Conference 28/02/2014

Clive Cheesman richmond@college-of-arms.gov.uk

Transferring arms

• Arms belong to a legal entity• Do not pass to inhabitants of area• Do not automatically pass to successor body• Do not automatically vest in later body of same

name and function• Transfer process• Royal Licence required in most cases• Order in Council where provided for in legislation

• Certificate (simple or decorative) provided• In all cases, Crown takes advice on whether

transfer appropriate

SLCC Practitioners’ Conference 28/02/2014

Clive Cheesman richmond@college-of-arms.gov.uk

Using your coat of arms (1)

• Formal contexts• Seal• Licences and certificates• Regalia

• Everyday contexts• Website• Letter heading• Signage• Vehicles• Merchandise• General branding

SLCC Practitioners’ Conference 28/02/2014

Clive Cheesman richmond@college-of-arms.gov.uk

Protecting your coat of arms (1)

• Use it … visibly• Be generous in enabling others to display it• Record who you have enabled to display it• Establish manner of use:• Associated text• Implicit/explicit indication of ownership

• Review the arrangements regularly• Reinforce the association with the council• Thereby reinforcing association of the council with

the locality

SLCC Practitioners’ Conference 28/02/2014

Clive Cheesman richmond@college-of-arms.gov.uk

Protecting your coat of arms (2)

• Register as a trade mark (in different versions)• Acquire and retain control of artwork• Legal remedies• Re-assertion of ownership• Trades description• Passing off

• Advice always available from College of Arms

SLCC Practitioners’ Conference 28/02/2014

Clive Cheesman richmond@college-of-arms.gov.uk

Conclusion: why a coat of arms?

• Universally recognised language of local identity

• Places council at heart of that identity

• Continuity of content• Endless adaptability of

style