Old_Cliftonian_Mag_2011

Heraldry
Harking to the Heralds
C.S. Knighton (Editor of the Register) looks for
the hidden agenda in Clifton’s coat of arms.
Argent a chevron between two trefoils
slipped in chief and in base a garb
azure, on a chief gules a crown
or between two books argent, garnished
and clasped or. That, in the language of
heralds, is what appears on Clifton’s
shield. We see this everywhere and
recognize it immediately as our corporate
emblem. Its significance is less familiar
and needs some unwrapping.
Relatively few schools and colleges
have their own distinct and properly
authorized heraldry. The oldest school
arms are those granted to Eton by the
founder, Henry VI, in 1449; at the same
time a matching coat was prescribed for
the sister foundation of King’s College,
Cambridge (with three roses where
Eton has lilies). This design, which set
elements of the royal arms in a bold new
framework, is a remote ancestor of the
arms granted to Clifton in 1895.
Many schools simply use the
undifferenced arms of their founders.
Very rarely do they have any right
to do so, but the practice is generally
explained and accepted as filial pietas.
Failing even this option schools have
concocted arms of their own, often in
the most appalling heraldic taste. The
nadir was surely reached by Grange Hill
(G impaling H), though plenty of real
institutions have done little better.
So it was at first with us. Clifton had
no founder in the strict sense: an
individual or corporation who set it up,
provided funds for its maintenance and
regulated its life by statutes. The school
began as a commercial venture, the
shareholders being a large body of local
gentry, professionals and merchants.
This amorphous parentage could not be
represented heraldically, so in its early
days the College adopted bogus arms
alluding to its religious character and
imagined gentility. This had in first and
fourth quarters respectively a trefoil
(clover leaf) and a lion rampant between
six cinquefoils representing ‘the family
of Clifton’, with the arms of the see of
Bristol (Sable three ducal coronets in pale
or) in the second and third quarters.
The cinquefoils were enough for most
armigerous Cliftons, but a Somerset
branch bore Sable, a lion rampant between
eight cinquefoils and a trefoil in chief slipped
or. There is no evident connexion
between these people and the village of
Clifton, let alone the College; but since
the clover leaf is also a Christian emblem
representing the Trinity, it was doubtless
thought very apt.
It has been claimed that the Clifton
trefoil actually compliments Dr John
Addington Symonds of Clifton Hill
House, and his son of the same names.
Three trefoils do indeed feature in their
family arms, but J.A.S. senior was only
one among the original Governors, and
Clifton was using the trefoil long before
the son became a literary celebrity. The
original arms appear on the cover of the
first Cliftonian (1867). The motto Haec
studia oblectant was a wry compression of
Cicero’s Haec studia adolescentiam alunt,
senectutem oblectant (Pro Archia Poeta, 16);
the elided alo would reappear later in
a different form.
The whole thing was nevertheless
illegal. By March 1870 the Council
had evidently realised this and
deputed the Secretary to ‘take out a
licence’ for armorial bearings, as if it
was as simple as licensing a dog or a
gun. In fact obtaining a grant from
the College of Arms (or Heralds’
College) is a lengthy and expensive
process, in which the Council took no
further interest for two decades.
After the Royal Charter of 1877, by
which the College was refounded as
a corporate body, an official grant of
arms was thought even more necessary;
but nothing was done until 1893. The
Masters then offered to pay the Heralds’
fees (estimated at £70), and Council
asked one of their number, D.C.A.
Cave, to consult with the Head Master
(Glazebrook). They produced some
sketches; and though Masters then
withdrew their subvention, Glazebrook
assured Council that if they were
worried about the expense, he was
confident of raising it elsewhere. So
Council authorized the application, with
particular hope that the version with the
lion ‘in chief ’ would be approved.
This, however, was not liked by the
Heralds, and though another design was
submitted, by April 1894 Council had had
enough, and ‘negatived’ the application.
Three months later H.J. Wiseman wrote
on behalf of the Masters with promise
of £80, whereupon Council rescinded
the April decision, and the application
was endorsed by the President, Lord
Ducie. One final hurdle was set by Rouge
Dragon Pursuivant (Everard Green
F.S.A.), to whom the work was committed,
who explained that his fees were payable
in advance; so cheques for £76 10s and 2
guineas were despatched.
The grant was eventually issued
on 8 April 1895. The large vellum
document, executed by Rouge
Dragon’s Artist, G.W. Eve, is
authenticated by the seals of the three
Kings of Arms (Garter, Clarenceux
and Norroy). In lay terms the red
section at the top of the shield
represents a royal foundation, as does
the crown or ducal coronet (heraldry
is surprisingly vague on this detail).
26 the CLIFTON MAGAZINE 2011