Thursday, April 10, 2025

Where Was This Picture of Heraldry Taken?


Okay, I'll admit it: I'm at a bit of a loss to know where Jo took this picture of a coat of arms for me. The automatic number that her camera put on this doesn't match up with any of the others that she took while we were on our last big trip together.

All I can say, really, is that it appears to be a pub sign.


Given the name at the bottom, I have to suspect that it comes from The Harlescott, a pub in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, a place we have never visited. And then there's the issue that The Harlescott was closed back in 2006, and was later demolished following an arson attack. (A little more information, along with a couple of photographs of the pub, though neither one including this pub sign, can be found on-line at https://www.closedpubs.co.uk/shropshire/shrewsbury_harlescott.html)

Still, regardless of this sign's provenance, it's got heraldry on it, and so we take an interest.

The arms would be blazoned Sable a chevron argent between three casks (or tuns) fesswise proper hooped sable. The crest is: A ship sails set gules, flagged argent, the mainsail charged with a wheel or. The supporters are Two swans proper, each gorged vert with a bunch of grapes pendant proper. And the motto (in Latin) is a most appropriate: Vinum exhilarat animum (Wine cheers the soul).

It's a lovely sign, with some well-painted heraldry on it. I just have no idea where it came from or where Jo saw it. I am glad, though, that wherever it was, she photographed it for me! And that I can share it with you!

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