IN the Journal on February 19, Norry Young takes the Salisbury City Council to task for using an incorrect coat of arms.
Actually, they are using a correct version recorded by the heralds in their Visitation for Wiltshire in 1623, namely: Barry of 8 Azure and Or (four blue and four gold bars alternately).
The heralds of England were royally empowered to record any coats of arms on their progresses around the counties and, if needs be, to destroy or deface any arms they believed to being used without their authorisation. The heralds had made a previous visitation to Wiltshire in 1565 when they did, indeed, record the arms Azure four gold bars – this does create a blue background of five pieces.
The council today therefore uses the later recorded arms. It would be nice to think that Salisbury's arms does make heraldic reference to its five rivers but I do not think the heralds recorded any such reference on any of their visitations to our county.
Stephen Slater
Shrewton
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