Lancaster Herald

Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an English officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. The title of Lancaster Herald first occurs in 1347 at Calais, and to begin with this officer was a servant to the noble house of Lancaster. As a retainer of John of Gaunt (1377-1399) Lancaster was advanced to the rank of King of Arms, and was later promoted to the royal household of Henry IV (Gaunt's son), and made king of the northern province. This arrangement continued until 1464, when Lancaster reverted to the rank of herald. Since the reign of King Henry VII (1485-1509) Lancaster has been a herald in ordinary. The badge of office is a red rose of Lancaster, royally crowned.

The current Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary is Robert John Baptist Noel, MA (Oxford), MPhil (Cambridge).

Holders of the office

"Brackets indicate a date or approximate date for which there is evidence that the named person was holder of this office. The reigning monarch is given if the date is not known more precisely."

Lancaster Herald to the Earl or Duke of Lancaster

*(1354) Herman (surname unknown)
*(1358) John (surname unknown)
*(1366) Nicholas (surname unknown)
*(1386) Roger Durroit, Esq.
*(Ric II) Richard Bruges, Esq.

Lancaster King of Arms in Ordinary

*(Ric II) Richard Bruges, Esq.
*(1426) John Ashwell, Esq.
*(1436) William Boys, Esq.
*(1447) William Tyndale, Esq.

Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary

*(Edw IV) James Collier or Collyer, Esq.
*(Edw IV) Richard Ashwell, Esq.
*(1486) (name unknown)
*1509-1526 Thomas Wall, Esq.
*1526-1527 William Jennings or Jenys, Esq.
*1527-1531 William Fellows, Esq.
*1531-1536 Fulk ap Howell, Esq.
*1536-1553 Thomas Milner, Esq.
*1553-1559 Nicholas Tubman, Esq.
*1559-1588 John Cocke, Esq.
*1588-1602 Nicholas Paddy, Esq.
*1602-1609 Francis Thynne, Esq.
*1609-1613 Nicholas Charles, Esq.
*1613-1637 William Penson, Esq.
*1637-1641 Thomas Thompson, Esq.
*1641-1658 William Ryley, Esq.
*1658-1660 George Barkham, Esq.
*1660-1665 William Ryley, Esq.
*1665-1676 Robert Chaloner, Esq.
*1676-1689 Francis Sandford, Esq.
*1689-1712 Gregory King, Esq.
*1712-1713 Rowland Fryth, Esq.
*1713-1727 John Hesketh, Esq.
*1727-1729 Stephen Martin Leake, Esq.
*1729-1743 Chalres Greene, Esq.
*1743-1761 Thomas Browne Esq.
*1761-1774 Sir Isaac Heard
*1774-1781 Thomas Locke, Esq.
*1781-1793 Sir Charles Townley
*1793-1822 Edmund Lodge, Esq., FSA
*1822-1841 Sir George Frederick Beltz KH, FSA
*1841-1869 Sir Albert William Woods, GCVO, KCB, KCMG, KGStJ, FSA
*1870-1882 George Edward Cokayne, Esq., FSA
*1882-1922 Edward Bellasis, Esq.
*1922-1954 Archibald George Blomefield Russell, Esq., CVO, FSA
*1954-1968 John Riddell Bromhead Walker, Esq., CVO, MC
*1972-1982 Francis Sedley Andrus, Esq., LVO
*1982-1995 Peter Llewellyn Gwynn-Jones, Esq., CVO, FSA
*1999-Present Robert John Baptist Noel, Esq.

ee also

* Heraldry
* Officer of Arms

References

* "The College of Arms, Queen Victoria Street : being the sixteenth and final monograph of the London Survey Committee", Walter H. Godfrey, assisted by Sir Anthony Wagner, with a complete list of the officers of arms, prepared by H. Stanford London, (London, 1963)
* "A History of the College of Arms &c", Rev. Mark Noble, (London, 1804)

External links

* [http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk The College of Arms]
* [http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuhags/info/o_of_a/intro.htm CUHGS Officer of Arms Index]