Devon heraldry

The arms of Courtenay on display above Powderham Castle in Devon in 2015, a seat of that family since the 14th century

The landed gentry and nobility of Devonshire, like the rest of the English and European gentry, bore heraldic arms from the start of the age of heraldry circa 1200-1215. The fashion for the display of heraldry ceased about the end of the Victorian era (1901) by which time most of the ancient armigerous families of Devonshire had died out, moved away or parted with their landed estates. In 2015 a very few ancient families remain in the county represented by direct male descendants, most notably Courtenay of Powderham, Fulford of Fulford, Kelly of Kelly, Cruwys of Cruwys Morchard, Clifford of Chudleigh, Acland of Killerton and Broadclyst, Wrey of Tawstock, etc. A few ancient Devon estates are still owned by descendants via female lines, for example Castle Hill, Filleigh, Molland, Incledon, Braunton, Hall, Bishop's Tawton, Newnham Park, etc. In most cases the laws of English heraldry preclude the transmission of paternal armorials via a female heiress (other than in the form of quartering), thus most of these inheritors via female lines, generally deriving from the same pool of high-status English armigerous families, bring their own paternal heraldry, possibly previously foreign to Devon, to the estates inherited. For example, the Irish arms of Gore (Earl of Arran) are now associated with Castle Hill, Filleigh, until 1958 the seat of the last male representative of the Fortescue family which originated in Devon in the 12th century. In a few cases however, male heirs via female lines have been required by the legator to seek royal licence to adopt his own arms and surname, otherwise destined to disappearance, in lieu of the legatees own. This was the case with the families most notably of Rolle, Basset, Stucley, Walrond, etc.

The standard sources for students of the heraldry of Devon are as follows:

Documents

Observation

Observation of surviving monuments in parish churches and mansion houses. Frequently discrepancies between these sources exist. Painted monuments in parish churches often have been restored, in some cases several times over the centuries, and the arms depicted may not be as originally painted. Heraldry sculpted in relief on stone is liable to wear and crumbling, especially when placed in the favourite location, exposed to the elements for centuries, on the porch or gatehouse of the family mansion. Ancient monumental brasses do not show tinctures but otherwise provide lasting records of heraldry. Stained glass depictions are optimal sources as they include tinctures, but ancient survivals are rare. Mural monuments placed high up on walls generally survive vandalism of past ages whilst paintings of arms on escutcheons sculpted in stone on mediaeval chest tombs have rarely survived and often were "scraped" clean of all decoration in the 17th century. Heraldic monuments displaying a family's arms are generally found in the church of the parish in which is situated their seat, but the paternal arms may also be found in remoter parish churches where a daughter of the family has married into a family resident there. In such a case the arms are shown impaled by the arms of her husband. Clearly the greatest problems in tracing heraldry relate to long extinct families. A few ancient Devon families survive, such as the Fortescues, and a flag showing the Fortescue arms still flies above Castle Hill in 2013. There is no shortage of surviving examples of the arms of the Chichesters and Rolles, but surviving heraldry of the ancient Courtenay Earls of Devon seated at Tiverton Castle is rare, although frequently shown as quarterings in the arms of related families.

List of Devon arms

The following armorials are listed in the Heraldic Visitations of Devon:[1]

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Name Escutcheon Blazon Seats
Acland Chequy argent and sable, a fesse gules Acland Barton, Landkey; Holnicote, Somerset; Killerton, Devon; Fremington House, Fremington; Hawkridge, Chittlehampton; Combe, Goodleigh; Sprydon, Broadclyst
Adams Or, a lion rampant between six crosses crosslet within a bordure engrailed sable Townstal, Dartmouth; Bowden, Ashprington(?); (Charlton Adam, Ilchester, Somerset)
Amory Barry nebulé of six argent and gules, over all a bend azure Whitechapel, Bishops Nympton
Arscott Per chevron azure and ermine in chief two buck's heads cabossed or Arscott, Holsworthy;[2]Dunsland, Bradford; Tetcott; Annery, Monkleigh
Ashe/Aysshe/Esse Argent, two chevrons sable Sowton, alias Clist Fomeson/Somson
Ayshford Argent, between two chevrons sable three ashen keys vert Ayshford, Burlescombe
Bampfylde/Bampfield Or, on a bend gules three mullets argent Poltimore; North Molton; Warleigh, Tamerton Foliot
Barry Barry of six argent and gules Winscott, St Giles in the Wood
Basset Barry wavy of six or and gules Whitechapel, Bishops Nympton; Umberleigh; Heanton Punchardon; Watermouth Castle
Bastard Or, a chevron azure Efford, Egg Buckland; Garston, West Alvington; Kitley, Yealmpton; Sharpham, Ashprington
Beaple Gules, a bend vairy between six escallops argent Barnstaple
Beaumont Barry of six vair and gules Youlston, Shirwell; Gittisham
Bellew Sable fretty or Stockleigh English; Ash, Braunton
Bere (alias Beare) Argent, three bear's heads erased sable muzzled or Huntsham; Morebath
Berry Or, three bars gules Berrynarbor
Blewett Or, a chevron between three eagles displayed vert Holcombe Rogus
Bodley Argent, five martlets saltirewise sable on a chief azure three ducal crowns or Dunscombe, Crediton; Exeter
Bonville Sable, six mullets argent pierced gules Shute
Bourchier Argent, a cross engrailed gules between four water bougets sable Tawstock; Bampton
Budockshed Sable, three fusils in fess between three buck's faces argent Budockshed, St Budeaux
Burgoyne Azure, a hound passant argent South Tawton
Bury Ermine, on a chevron engrailed azure three fleurs-de-lys or Colleton, Chulmleigh
Cade Argent, three piles in point wavy sable Fremington; Barnstaple
Calmady Azure, a chevron between three pears or Calmady, Penfound, Poundstock, Cornwall;Langdon, Wembury; Stoke Climsland, Cornwall; Leawood, Bridestowe;
Carew Or, three lions passant sable Crowcombe; Antony, Cornwall; Tiverton Castle; Haccombe; Bickleigh Castle; Mohuns Ottery
Cary Argent, on a bend sable three roses of the field Cary, St Giles on the Heath; Clovelly; Cockington; Torr Abbey
Champernowne Gules, a saltire vair between twelve billets or Modbury; Bere Ferrers; Dartington; Ilfracombe
Cheney Gules, five fusils in fess argent on each an escallop sable Pinhoe
Chichester Chequy or and gules, a chief vair Raleigh; Eggesford; Hall, Bishop's Tawton; Pill, Bishop's Tawton; Arlington; Youlston
Cholmeley Gules, in chief two close helmets argent in base a garb or Tiverton
Chudleigh Ermine, three lions rampant gules Ashton; Haldon
Clifford Chequy or and azure a fess gules Chudleigh
Coffin Azure, three bezants between eight crosses crosslet or Portledge, Alwington; Monkleigh; Inwardleigh
Cogan Gules, three (mulbery) leaves argent[3] Bampton
Coplestone Argent, a chevron engrailed gules between three leopard's faces azure Copplestone, Colebrooke; Warleigh, Tamerton Foliot
Courtenay Or, three torteaux Okehampton; Tiverton; Powderham; Molland; Colcombe Castle; Upcott, Cheriton Fitzpaine
Crossing Or, on a chevron azure between three crosses crosslet fitchée gules as many bezants Exeter
Culme Azure, a chevron ermine between 3 pelicans vulning their breasts or Molland Champson; Canonsleigh Abbey
Davie (Bardolph arms) Azure, three cinquefoils or on a chief of the last a lion passant gules Creedy, Sandford; Canonteign, Christow; Ruxford, Sandford;
Davie (de Via arms) Argent, a chevron sable between three mullets pierced gules Creedy, Sandford; Canonteign, Christow; Ruxford, Sandford;
Denys/Dennis Ermine, three battle-axes gules Holcombe Burnell; Bicton
Denys/Dennis Azure, three Danish battle axes erect or Orleigh
Docton Per fess gules and argent, two crescents in chief or another in base sable Docton, Hartland
Dowrish Argent, a bend cotised sable a bordure engrailed of the last Dowrish, Sandford
Drake Argent, a wyvern wings displayed gules Ash, Musbury
Drewe Ermine, a lion passant gules Sharpham, Ashprington; Killerton, Broadclyst; The Grange, Broadhembury
Duck Or, on a fess wavy sable three lozenges of the field Heavitree, Exeter; Mount Radford, Exeter
Duke Per fesse argent and azure, three chaplets counterchanged Otterton
Floyer Sable, a chevron between three arrows points downward argent Floyer Hayes
Ford Party per fesse or and sable, in chief a greyhound courant in base an owl within a bordure engrailed all counter-changed Nutwell; Chagford; Ashburton; Bagtor, Ilsington
Fortescue Azure, a bend engrailed argent cotised or Whympston, Modbury; Castle Hill, Filleigh; Weare Giffard; Fallapit, East Allington; Buckland Filleigh; Preston, Devon; Wood, Woodleigh
Fownes Azure, two eagles displayed in chief and a mullet in base argent Plymouth; Kittery Court, Kingswear; Nethway, Kingswear; (Dunster Castle, Somerset)
Fulford Gules, a chevron argent Great Fulford, Dunsford
Gay Or, a chevron between three escallops azure Goldworthy, Parkham; Frithelstock
Giffard Sable, three fusils conjoined in fesse ermine Brightley, Chittlehampton; Tiverton Castle; Halsbury, Parkham
Glanville Azure, three saltires or Holwell; Kilworthy, Tavistock
Gould Per saltire azure and or a lion rampant counterchanged Downes, Crediton; Floyer Hayes; Lew Trenchard
Hamlyn Gules, a lion rampant ermine crowned or Widecombe; Buckfastleigh; Woolfardisworthy; Clovelly
Hancock Gules, on a chief argent three cocks of the field Combe Martin; Mount Radford, Exeter
Hatch Gules, two demi-lions passant guardant in pale or Hatch/Hacche, South Molton; Aller, South Molton; Woolleigh, Beaford
Haydon Argent, three bars gemels azure on a chief gules a fess dansettée or Cadhay, Ottery St Mary; Ebford, Woodbury
Harvey Gules, on a bend argent three trefoils slipped vert Aylesbeare
Hooker alias Vowell Or, a fess vair between two lions passant guardant sable St Mary Major, Exeter
Howper/Hooper Gyronny of eight or and ermine, over all a castle triple-towered sable Musbury; Fullabrook, Braunton; Raleigh, Pilton
Incledon Argent, a chevron engrailed between three tuns sable fire issuing from the bung hole proper Incledon, Braunton; Buckland, Braunton; Colleton, Chulmleigh; Pilton House, Pilton; Yeotown, Goodleigh
Kelly Argent, a chevron between three billets gules Kelly
Leach Ermine, on a chief engrailed gules three ducal coronets or Cadeleigh; All Hallows, Goldsmith Street, Exeter
Luttrell Or, a bend between six martlets sable Hartland Abbey; Saunton; (Dunster Castle, Somerset)
Mallet Azure, three escallops or[4] Ash, Iddesleigh; Woolleigh, Beaford; Deandon, Widdecombe; Hatch, South Molton
Martyn Argent, two bars gules[5] Feudal barony of Barnstaple; Oxton, Kenton; Lindridge
Mohun Or, a cross engrailed sable Tavistock; Mohuns Ottery; (Dunster, Somerset; Hall, Lanteglos, Cornwall)
Monk Gules, a chevron between three lion's heads erased argent Potheridge, Merton
Moore Argent, a chevron between three moorcocks sable Moore, near Tavistock;[6] Upcott, Cheriton Fitzpaine
Northcote Argent, three crosses-crosslet in bend sable Northcote, East Down; Newton St Cyres; Pynes, Upton Pyne
Northleigh Argent, a chevron sable between three roses gules Northleigh, Inwardleigh; Peamore, Exminster; Matford, Alphington
Parker Sable, a stag's head cabossed between two flaunches argent North Molton; Boringdon; Saltram; Whiteway, Chudleigh
Petre Gules, on a bend or between two escallops argent a Cornish chough proper between two cinquefoils azure Bowhay, Dunchideock; Tor Newton, Tor Bryan
Pincombe Per pale gules and azure, three close helmets argent garnished or South Molton; North Molton; Filleigh; East Buckland
Pole Azure semée of fleurs de lis or, a lion rampant argent Shute; Colcombe Castle
Pollard Argent, a chevron sable between three escallops gules Way, St Giles in the Wood; Grilston, Bishop's Nympton; King's Nympton; Langley, Yarnscombe; Abbots Bickington; Horwood
Pollard (de Via arms)[7] Argent, a chevron sable between three mullets pierced gules Way, St Giles in the Wood; Grilston, Bishop's Nympton; King's Nympton; Langley, Yarnscombe; Abbots Bickington; Horwood; Ford Abbey, Thorncombe; Knowstone
Pomeroy Or, a lion rampant gardant gules armed and langued azure within a bordure engrailed sable Berry Pomeroy Castle; Bowden, Ashprington
Popham Argent, on a chief gules two stag's heads cabosed or Lynton
Prideaux Argent, a chevron sable in chief a label of three points gules Orcharton, Modbury; Adeston, Holbeton; Thuborough, Sutcombe; Soldon, Holsworthy; Netherton, Farway; Ashburton; Nutwell, Woodbury; Ford Abbey, Thorncombe; (also Prideaux Place, Padstow and Prideaux Castle, Luxulyan, Cornwall)
Prouse Sable, three lions rampant argent Chagford; Barnstaple; Tiverton
Prust Gules, on a chief argent two estoiles sable Thorry, Hartland; Gorven, Hartland; Annery, Monkleigh
Prye Ermine, a chevron sable a chief azure fretty or[8] Horwell, Colebrooke
Radford Sable, three lampagoes passant coward in pale argent Upcott, Cheriton Fitzpaine; Okeford; Rockbeare
Raleigh Gules crusilly or, a bend vair or Gules, a bend vair between six cross-crosslets or Raleigh, Pilton; Fardell, Cornwood
Reynell Argent, masonry sable a chief indented of the second Forde, Wolborough; East Ogwell
Risdon Argent, three birdbolts sable Winscott, St Giles in the Wood; Bableigh, Parkham
Rolle Or, on a fesse dancette between three billets azure each charged with a lion rampant of the first three bezants Stevenstone; Bicton; Hudscott, Chittlehampton; Beam, Great Torrington; Heanton Satchville, Petrockstowe
Seymour Gules, two wings conjoined in lure or Berry Pomeroy
Shapcott Sable, a chevron (or[9]) between three dovecotes argent Shapcott, Knowstone
Smith of Totnes Barry undé of sixteen argent and azure on a chief gules three barnacles or[10] Totnes
Southcott Argent, a chevron gules between three coots sable Indio, Bovey Tracey; Mohuns Ottery, Luppitt
Sparke Chequy or and vert, a bend ermine The Friary (Whitefriar's Priory), St Jude, Plymouth
Speccot Or, on a bend gules three millrinds argent Speccot, Merton; Thornbury; (Penheale, Cornwall)
Strode Argent, a chevron between three conies courant sable Old Newnham and Newnham Park, Plympton St Mary
Stucley Azure, three pears or Affeton Castle; Hartland Abbey; Daddon/Moreton House
Tothill Azure, on a bend argent cotised or a lion passant sable Peamore, Exminster; City of Exeter
Tremayne Gules, three dexter arms conjoined at the shoulders and flexed in triangle or the fists clenched argent[11] Collacombe, Lamerton; Sydenham, Marystow
Trevelyan Gules, the base barry wavy argent and azure a demi-horse issuant of the second maned and hoofed or Yarnscombe; (Nettlecombe, Somerset)
Tristram Argent, three torteaux a label of three points azure a chief gules Duvale & Castle Grove, Bampton
Turberville Argent, a lion rampant gules crowned or Sampford Peverell; (Bere, Dorset; Coity Castle, Glamorgan)
Upton Sable, a cross flory argent Puslinch; Lupton
Venner Gules, three bends or a chief per fess ermine and argent[12] Hudscott, Chittlehampton
Walrond Argent, three bull's heads cabossed sable armed or Bradfield, Uffculme; Bovey House, Beer
Webber Gules, on a chevron engrailed argent between three plates three annulets of the first Incledon, Braunton; Buckland, Braunton
Wollocombe Argent, three bars gules Wollocombe, Mortehoe; Combe / Over Wollocombe, Roborough
Worth (Wrothe) Argent, an eagle with two heads displayed sable beaked and legged gules Worth, Washfield, near Tiverton
Yeo Argent, a chevron sable between three ducks azure[13] Heanton Satchville, Petrockstowe; Huish; Hatherleigh; Fremington

Blazons by Sir William Pole

The following blazons, with spellings corrected and modernised, were recorded by Sir William Pole:[14]

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Vivian 1895.
  2. ↑ Hoskins, p.411
  3. ↑ As blazoned by Sir William Pole (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, p.447 and as depicted quartered on monument of Lady Frances Bourchier (1587-1612), daughter of William Bourchier, 3rd Earl of Bath (d.1623), in the Bedford Chapel at Chenies, Buckinghamshire. The arms of Cogan (a branch of which later became known as Goggin) are variously blazoned elsewhere as oak leaves, aspen leaves, etc.
  4. ↑ Mallet of Idsleigh (Vivian 1895, p. 545); as visible on monument to Sir Arthur Acland (d.1610) in Landkey Church
  5. ↑ As generally blazoned; Vivian 1895, p. 552, Martyn of Oxton, gives three bars
  6. ↑ Pole, p.220
  7. ↑ de Via arms, as also used by the Davie family of Creedy, Sandford, who claimed common origin with the Pollards from the de Via/de la Way family, were quartered by Pollard with their escallop arms, (Prince, pp.284 (footnote), 783) but were sometimes used alone, as evidenced most notably by all the surviving Pollard monuments and ledger stones in Horwood Church
  8. ↑ per Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, p.498. Alternatively: Ermine, a chevron gules a chief azure fretty or (per Vivian, p.631, pedigree of Prye of Horwell). These arms are visible on the monument to John Wrey (d.1597) in Tawstock Church, Devon. John Wrey's son Edmond Wrey married Katherine Prye, daughter of Roger Prye of Horwell (Vivian, p.631)
  9. ↑ As depicted in stained glass in east window of Shute Church, Devon, impaled by arms of Pole of Shute, representing the marriage of Sir Courtenay Pole, 2nd Baronet (1619-1695) and Urith Shapcott, daughter of Thomas Shapcott of Shapcott in the parish of Knowstone, Devon. Elsewhere the arms are shown with a chevron or (Barnstaple Church on Tucker monument), or without chevron (in Knowstone Church). (Pole (Vivian 1895, pp. 603), Shapcott (Vivian 1895, pp. 677), blazoned with chevron or)
  10. ↑ As seen impaled by Wrey on monument to John I Wrey (d.1597) in Tawstock Church, Devon. Wrey's son John II Wrey was the 3rd husband of Eleanor Smith, daughter of Bernard Smith (d.1591) of Totnes. Arms of Smith of Totnes given by Pole, p.502, as: Barry undé of six argent and azure on a chief gules three barnacles or(Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, p.502) Given incorrectly by Vivian, p.691 as arms of Smyth of Exeter, whose arms were: Sable, a fess cotised between three martlets or (Pole, p.502 and as visible on mural monument to Sir Bevil Grenville (d.1645) in Kilkhampton Church)
  11. ↑ Pole, p.505, fists argent; Vivian, p.730, fists proper
  12. ↑ Vivian, p.746
  13. ↑ Per research conducted by Sheila Yeo of the Yeo Society , based on stained glass depictions of Yeo arms in churches of Petrockstowe (Yeo of Heanton Satchville) and Hatherleigh (Yeo of Hatherleigh) both in Devon. The ducks are described as of various breeds by different sources. Heraldic sources give contradictory tinctures: Argent, a chevron between three shovelers sable (Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitation of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.834) and Argent, a chevron between three mallards azure (Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, p.510)
  14. ↑ Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, pp.467-510

References

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