Leigh of West Hall

Having recently completed a number of Leigh images, I had been hoping to do an illustration of the "other" crest of Leigh of West Hall but find that I don't have all the information!

Burke's General Armory lists two crests, the first of which is illustrated in colour on the image below:

The second crest is blazoned thus:

A demi-lion rampant Or, holding a pennon displayed Azure charged with two bars Or inscribed Force Avec Vertu and with a shield of the arms of Leigh of West Hall High Leigh on which are three escutcheons of pretence, with the arms of the three husbands of Agnes de Leigh of West Hall viz: Lymme, Venables and Haywarden.

An illustration of a bookplate showing this crest can be seen below:

My difficulty is this; I know that thew arms of Lymme, husband of Agnes are Gules, a pile lozengy Argent - but I do not know the blazon of the remaining two arms, those of Venables (it appears to be a bend sinister) and Haywarden (Hawarden?) (it appears to be a cross).

Two down - one to go!

Well. I have now finished the Visitations of 1613 and the last page can be accessed here:

http://cheshire-heraldry.org.uk/visitations1613/CV1613_27.html

The last image to go into the 1613 folder was the arms of Wyche, of Davenham

Arms (in trick):
Quarterly: 
1 and 4, Azure, a pile Ermine [WYCHE]
2 and 3, Argent, on a chevron Gules [Sable?] three trefoils slipped of the field [BRETT].

Crest: An arm embowed vested Argent, cuff Ermine, the hand proper holding a trefoil slipped Vert.

[This Coate was confirmed & the creast graunted unto Tho: Wyche of Davenham p William Flower Norroy in the 29 yeare of Quene Elyza: Ao 1587.]

 Now I just have to do the images and web pages for the 1663 Visitations .. ho hum.

Leigh Baronet

Since posting the arms of the Leigh Baronet I have redone the image:

Pronominal coat:



Quartered coat:

A New Lord Lyon

Although there has been no official announcement, the retirement of Robin Orr Blair, LVO, Lord Lyon King of Arms has been leaked on the HSS forum.
 
It seems that Mr. Brian Hamilton has been informed that "A recent correspondent to the Lyon Office was told to delay his petition until after the New Year (2008) as the present Lord Lyon was retiring from office in December." 
 
Mr. Hamilton was "surprised that no one else has posted on this subject so far."
 
The retirement of Mr. Blair from office has been the subject of a serious rumour for a number of days now though it would seem, from what I gather from another reliable source, this is rather more substantial than a mere rumour as it has now been confirmed by a senior member of Lyon Court. It seems that the intention is to advertise the post once more. Those familiar with Lyon Court will know that Mr. Blair was the first to be appointed to this post following public advertisement of the vacancy in 2001. [The first being the fact that the post had never before been advertised in the National Press]
 
Since we all love to speculate and it would seem that the speculation over a possible retirement is over, I shall indulge in a wee bit of my own speculation. I know that Carrick would perhaps be a more obvious immediate choice but my money is on W. David H. Sellar, Bute Pursuivant of Arms who was appointed Bute Pursuivant on 1st November 2001. 
 
It could of course be YOU !
 
Any takers?
http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/staff/wdavi...hsellar_71.aspx

Site update Visitations 1533 to 1580 completed.

I have now finished the site update for the Cheshire Visitations 1533 to 1580.



Now just need to start on the last bit, the Visitations of 1613!

Sir Samuel Egerton Leigh

I have recently been asked to produce the arms believed to have been used by Sir Samuel Egerton Leigh Bart.





The third baronet's quarterings are believed to be represented as follows :

1 & 8  Leigh     : Or a Lion rampant Gules

2      Egerton   : Argent a Lion rampant Gules between three Pheons Sable 
                  

3      Cavendish : Sable three Bucks' Heads cabossed Argent  (undifferenced as Lord Cavendish of Furness uses today; the quartering of these arms also serves to difference them)

4      Stanley   : Argent on a bend Azure three Stags' Heads cabossed Or (the arms of the Earl of Derby)

5      Clifford  : Checky Or and Azure a fess Gules


6      Brandon   : Barry of ten Argent and Gules a Lion rampant Or ducally crowned per pale of the First  and Second

7      Henry VII : Quarterly 1st & 4th, Azure three Fleurs-de-Lis Or  (France); 2nd & 3rd, Gules three Lions passant guardant in pale Or (England)

A question of Seal Cases

From time to time (frequently!) I am asked questions pertaining to the Heraldry of Cheshire via my Cheshire Heraldry web site and I do my best to give a sensible and informative reply. Today, however I received a request for information which was a tad beyond my limited knowledge and was not in any case specific to Cheshire.
 

Quote: Dear Sir, I have a few questions relating to the technical aspects of the Patents issued by the College of Arms respecting the Pendant Seals attached to such Patents of Arms. Possibly, you might be able to easily answer such questions: 1) What is the diameter across of the pendant seals of the Kings of Arms? 2) What firm is the manufacturer of the seal-cases or 'skippets' in which such wax seals are enclosed? 3) How is the wax physically poured into such 'skippets' and the seal applied? Is there some type of bespoke wax seal burner or 'pot' in which a large quantity of wax is melted and then poured into the skippets? 4) Is the sealing wax used in the seals of the English Kings of Arms some special type of wax? If so, would you know the supplier of such wax? Thanking you in advance for any information which you might have on the pendant seals used by the Kings of Arms, I remain, with all best wishes, Yours sincerely,

Since my letters patent are safely sleeping in a bank vault and I never thought to measure the seal cases, I fell at the first hurdle!
 
I suggested the enquirer might like to send the same letter to the College of Arms. I often wonder why questioners don't seek a reply straight from the horse's mouth. Why this enquiry came to me instead of them, I'll never know.