Council Coat of Arms

The most surprising project of our parish council (so far) is to consult the College of Arms to create a "Coat of Arms" - more correctly an armorial achievement.

The College of Arms, a branch of the Royal Household but financially self-supporting, dates from the Royal Heralds c.1420 and today has heraldic specialists retaining their forebear's Norman French titles like Rouge Dragon Pursuivant. These experts ensure that correct heraldic devices are chosen and marshalled for Letchworth Parish Council following ancient rules, so the achievement is distinct from all others.

At present, due to a Special Offer!, the college will create a coat of arms for only £4950, excluding a badge, normally derived from the crest of the achievement, and typically used for battlefield recognition - so the soldier knows friend from foe.

The achievement also serves to show the owner's family lineage and history (in the case of our parish council all the way back to 2005) including marriage when the husband's arms would be impaled by his wife's, his half being the dexter. A bastard son's achievement would have a difference, often a baton sinister superimposed on the shield. Subsequent generations marrying would cause further subdivision: quarters, eighths and so on.

So how wonderful!

The parish council will be able to display their armorial achievement in their castles, (and as Cllr Ross wants to pay the extra for a badge), equip their soldiers with badges on tunic and shield so they will know on whose side they are fighting. Heraldic archivists will be able to read the achievement and tell just what the family in ancient times was famous for and what important families they married.