The Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers

College of Arms Visit

On a warm summer’s evening, twenty or so of our company gathered outside a set of grand iron gates, a mere stone’s throw from the front of St. Paul’s Cathedral, for an exclusive private tour of the Royal College of Arms.

We learnt that the college is the body responsible for issuing coats of arms across England, Wales and Northern Ireland (a separate body, the Court of Lord Lyon, handles the issue of Scottish arms). Arms and their uses evolved over many centuries, often for personal seals and quick identification of troops on battlefields. The college itself was formally set up in 1484, and as such (of interest to the Ricardians among us!) is a rare institutional legacy of Richard III’s short reign.

The members of the college are personally appointed by the monarch, and are formally known by their roles, pursuivants, heralds and kings – identities for which they are entitled to passports! We were shown around by the eloquent and highly-knowledgable York Herald, also known as Peter O’Donoghue.

Remarkably, the college has its own court, which handles arms-related disputes and last sat in 1954! The members are entitled to reside on-site, although spouses have not been permitted for some time due to posing ‘distractions’ – and approximately one new member is recruited at a rate every two years (so such opportunities are very rare).

Following a fascinating walk through the history of the building and the institution, we were welcomed into the bomb-proof study room.   Lining all walls were tall in-built cupboards with tomes and tomes of dusty ledgers, full of all the coats of arms ever issued. A really lovely throwback to traditional filing methods in our modernising world of computers and AI.

Immaculately preserved on vellum parchment, we were treated to the vivid colours & combinations of centuries of arms. The volumes appeared to have been written for many different purposes, with the arms of Henry VIII’s many execution victims unceremoniously crossed out in one book! There was equal if not more excitement when our own coat of arms, as the 107th livery company, was revealed (representing physical proof that the company is permitted to use its coat of arms!)

The evening was rounded off with a delicious spread of savoury & sweet food and wine, which provided opportunity for a refreshing and uplifting chat before everybody headed homewards (as far as Wiltshire, for many of our number). All in all, a highly enjoyable and enlightening evening.