Powys Arms Wetley Rocks

Many moons ago, I wrote to the then licencee of The Powys Arms, Wetley Rocks, pointing out that the coat of arms on their pub sign was not the arms of the Powys, Lords of the Manor of Wetley Rocks, but, most incorrectly, the coat of arms of Powys County Council! My efforts to persuade them to correct the mistake did resulted in the removel of the old, faded, incorrect pub sign but, sadly, it was replaced with a sign that was not the arms of Powys but was simply a sign with the words The Powys Arms written upon it. Perhaps this was cheaper, or easier, than painting the actual, correct arms. 

The former, now replaced Inn sign at the Powys Arms, Wetley Rocks showing the coat of arms of Powys County Council (Wales). Which has absolutely nothing  to do with the arms of Powys of Westwood, Lords of the Manor of Wetley Rocks.

It saddens me that an incresing number of pubs with "Arms" names are forgetting that their name origins stem, litterally, from coats of Arms with local histories, and are replacing their signs with just words. The Powys Arms are a prime example. 

Today, a repost appeared on the Facebook page of the Staffordshire Sentinel/Leek Post and Times reposrting that, after a facelift, the pub has re-opend under the management of Julie, a new publican. Whilst I realise that the loss of true armorial pub signs is likely a result of tightening budgets, I can't help but wonder if Julie might be open to a suggestion that reinstating the proper Powys Arms on the pub sign might restore some link to the pubs past.

Tony Consadine - a sad farewell

 Tony Consadine, from Lancaster, passed away last Wednesday the 23rd September 2026. 

Many from the Heraldry world will remember Tony, he was Heraldist to the Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society, a long time member of the Cheshire Heraldry Society, member of Yorkshire Heraldry Society, Member of The Heraldry Society, and a good friend in heraldry. 

He contributed many an article to the publications of the Yorkshire Heraldry Society and was always ready to lend a hand during the meetings of the Cheshire Heraldry Society.

Tony had been poorly for quite some time and after a valiant struggle, passed away last Wednesday the 23rd September 2026. He was a loving father of a son and two daughters, and a much loved brother to George, as well as a much loved granddad.

May he rest in peace.

Aspects of Heraldry

 It's that time of year again and my copy of Aspects of Heraldry, The Journal of The Yorkshire Heraldry Society, has just dropped through my letter box. 

Edited (and with a great many illustrations and articles) by David Waterton-Anderson, this is always a pleasure to receive. This edition has a wide variety of articles produced by David (Armorial Cloth Badge, Heraldry at Orton Hall, and Markenfield Hall) and other contributors including Analeigh Sbrana (Keeping it in the family), Michael A. Linton (Shifting Barony: Vesci), Donald M. Hallowes (Whitkirk Church) Geoffrey Collier (Haldenby Arms) and yours trully (Canting Arms & Making it Fit).

If you are not yet a member of The Yorkshire Heraldry Society, I commend it to you; you don't particularly have to live in Yorkshire as the magazine alone is worth the membership fee. The Society has an active schedule of visits and holds an annual lecture day.

David can be contacted at yorksheraldrysoc@gmail.com

A Grant of arms to an Office Holder

Today, the Court of the Lord Lyon published photographs of the Lord Lyon presenting the Letters Patent of  a new grant of arms to the non-hereditary office of Keeper of Inchmahome.

I am always pleased to see how successive Lords Lyon strive to keep heraldry relevant and to the fore. Scotland, in my humble opinion has a head start in this as, unlike its fellow nation of the UK England, it has a thriving Clan system of which heraldry is of great importance. 

Here are the Letters Patent (it is a pity that there is a grammatical error in the execution of the document which appears to have gone unnoticed). 

This image is possibly too small to see but I checked with a magnifying glass. There is a surplus "the".

"John Alexander Stewart of Inchmahome disponed to the the Trustees of the said Society in trust for the use and behoof of the said Society".

Lyon Office has been notified.

Nevertheless, congratulations to the Stewart Society and the present Keeper of Inchmahome, may you gain much joy from the use of the arms of your Office.

New arms for an anniversary - HSS

Congratulations to the Heraldry Society of Scotland whose newly granted supporters commemorating the forthcoming Golden Jubilee, were unveiled at their AGM yesterday. I always liked the crest character which, by accident or design, had always been depicted in the image of one of its original founding members, Charles John Burnett, Ross Herald of Arms Extraordinary, but time moves on and it seems that he has now been replaced by a likeness of the recently deceased Mark Dennis, who was appointed as Ormond Pursuivant of Arms in 2009 and later elevated to Ross Herald of Arms Extraordinary in 2017, a role he held until his retirement from active court duties in 2020. Life moves on. A well deserved tribute to a man whom I though should have been successful in his application to become Lord Lyon.

The Original "Burnet" arms of the HSS

The new "supported" "Dennis" arms of the HSS.

I must admit that when I first saw the newly granted supporters they brought to mind one of the supporters from the completely unauthorised arms adopted many years ago by the late former Chairman of the HSS Romilly Squire who referred to these arms as his "foreign" arms to be use outwith the borders of Scotland.

The "foreign" arms of the late Romilly Squire (artist, himself).

New arms for a extinct family (attributed) - decided.

After some deliberation I have decided to go with the chevron and thistles coat for the arms to be attributed to a fictional family surnamed Touchnor.

Arms: Per chevron Or and Vert, a chevron per chevron between three thistles all counterchanged.

Crest: A porcupine Proper.

Motto: Noli Tangere.

This achievement is presented as an heraldic pun, canting arms or arme parlante; a visual pun on a person's or family's surname using the symbols and charges depicted on their coat of arms.

To play on the surname of "Touchnor" (soundalike: "Touch-no"), this design centres around the idea of avoiding contact or keeping a secure boundary. I have made the "barrier" a chevron per chevron counterchanged and the charges are thistles: A thistle is a prickly, wild herbaceous plant characterized by sharp, needle-like prickles or spines covering its leaves and stem. These sharp bits are a natural defence mechanism designed to protect the plant from being eaten by grazing animals. Thistles litterally say "Touch me not". or "Touch no". 

The crest of a porcupine visually enforces the concept of "do not touch."

The Latin motto Noli Tangere (often written as noli me tangere) literally means "do not touch me." or, "Touch not", a play on the name Touchnor.

Please note, these arms have been designed for a fictional character in a book.

International Rabbit Day 2026

 Today is International Rabbit Day so here are the canting arms of  Conisbie.

Conisbie, alias Coningsby, of Nene Solers (Co. Salop) and Morton Bagott (Co. Warwick)

Arms: Gules, three conies sejant two and one Argent. 

Crest: A coney sejant Argent,

(Visitations 1623 and Edmonson)

This one is quite obvious as a cony (or coney) is the traditional heraldic term for a rabbit, frequently used in British heraldry. Representing fertility and a gentle nature, it often appears in canting arms (puns on surnames) and is commonly depicted as brown, sitting (sejant), or running (courant). Here, it is Argent.