Melton Mowbray Town Estate

Enquiries began in 1973 concerning a Coat of Arms for the Town Estate.

Since the latter part of the last century the Town Estate had, with others, made illegal use of the Silver Lion Rampant on a red shield, from the Mowbray Arms.

After considerable correspondence with Lord Mowbray, Seagrave and Stourton, and the Richmond Herald of Arms, Mr J P Brooke-Little, and much patient work by Mr Gilbert King and Mr D A Taylor, the above design was approved by the Kings of Arms.

The cross in the design is the silver cross of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, some of whose land was acquired by the Town Estate in 1549.

The fleur de lys was the symbol of the "Guild of our Layde" which helped in the establishment of the Town Estate.

Letters patent were handed over to the Townwardens at a ceremony held in Melton Carnegie Museum on 13th May 1978, at which were present Lord Mowbray, Richmond Herald of Arms and the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire.

Coat of Arms Ceremony 13th May 1978

Extract of speech by Mr. J.P. Brooke-Little, Richmond Herald of Arms:

"This is a historic moment in the history of the Town Estate of Melton Mowbray because for many years - I don't know how many and it wouldn't be seemly to enquire - you have been using the undifferenced Coat of Arms anciently belonging to the Lords Mowbray and borne as a quartering to the arms of the present Lord Mowbray.

Some time ago it was thought that this was really not quite right because an individual's arms should not be used by a corporate body and so we set about having a proper grant of arms...

...This is something which stems from the Crown and to which you must, if you are to bear it properly, establish a legal right and so we went through the long and somewhat tortuous business of obtaining a grant of arms."

Also present at the ceremony were Lord and Lady Mowbray and the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire.

The design, produced by Mr. G.M.P. King and Mr D.A. Taylor, incorporates the Fleur de Lys of the Guilde of our Ladye and the Silver Cross on red background of the Knight Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem.