The Heraldry
of Lumley
This page was
set up by Robert Sewell in November, 2002 to show the history of the Heraldry
of the Lumley Family since the earliest known times. Robert Sewell
graduated from McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) in 1967
with a B.Sc. degree in chemistry. After a year of studies at the
University of Toronto's College of Education, he taught high school science
in Collingwood, Ontario for a year and then taught chemistry, physics and
general science in Hamilton, Ontario for twenty-nine years. Robert
Sewell retired from teaching in June 1998.
Click
to contact Robert Sewell
Please visit the Sewell
Genealogy Site Map for other pages in this series.
The information presented has been
taken from the following source:
-
Sir Bernard Burke, C.B., LL.D., Ulster
King of Arms: The General Armory, London 1884
| The original Arms of Baron Lumley of Lumley Castle, co.
Durham were "Gules, six martlets argent" as shown to the right.
Lumley Castle in county Durham is operated to-day as a
hotel with accomodations beginning at £105 ($260 Canadian) and ranging
up to nearly £300. That is not for a week; it is overnight!
However, Lumley Castle has an excellent web site at www.lumleycastle.com
and the free visit to this site is very worthwhile. Be sure to check
the "History" section for more about the fortunes and misfortunes of various
Lumleys. |
|
Following the marriage of Robert de Lumley to Lucia Thweng during the reign
of Henry II (1307-1327) the Lumleys appear to have adopted the Arms of
Baron Thweng, and used three parrots or popinjays (or in one case pigeons)
in place of the six martlets in the original Arms of Baron Lumley.
Sir Bernard Burke writes:
"Lumley (Baron Lumley,
Under attainder since 1537; Sir Ralph De Lumley was summoned
to Parliament 1384). Gules six martlets argent, original arms, and after
the marriage of Sir Robert De Lumley, temp. Edward II., with
Lucia,
sister and co-heir of William De Thweng, Baron Thweng, of
Kilton Castle, co. York, the arms of that family, viz., Or, a fess gules
between three parrots proper collared of the second."
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|
Please
click for a larger version of the armorial bearings of
Lumley
Earl of Scarborough
|
Lumley (Earl of Scarborough), Argent a fesse
gules between three parrots vert, collared of the second. Crest — A pelican
in her piety proper. Supporters — Two parrots, wings inverted vert. Motto
— Murus aëneus conscientia sana.
Linda Adams' 2nd cousin,
a student of languages in Oregon, wrote with regard to the motto:
"It turns out that 'murus aëneus conscienta sana' is a quotation from
the Roman poet Horace (65 - 8 B.C.), who was known for his high morals,
good-natured satire and dignity. . . . your quotation means: 'A healthy
conscience is a bronze wall,' meaning that a healthy conscience is as good
as a strong, stalwart, radiant wall." |
|
De Lumley Family of France
Amaury de Lumley of France shared the description of this
quartered coat of arms that includes the arms of Lumley, Earl of Scarborough.
Amaury wrote: " . . . one of my ancestors came from UK
in the first half of the 19th century. No one in my family is aware of
any other Lumley from France . . .."
Click to send an email to:
Amaury
de Lumley
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Lumley (Clipston, co. Northampton).
Gules on a fesse between three popinjays argent as many
mullets sable. |
Lumley (cos. Middlesex and York). Argent a fesse
gules between three parrots proper gorged with collars of the second. Crest
— A pelican in her piety proper.
|
Lumley (Harbling, co. Lincoln). Gules a fesse
between three pigeons argent Crest — A pigeon argent in the beak a laurel
sprig vert.
|
There are also Lumley Arms
without birds of any kind:
Lumley (Great Bradfield, co. Essex, bart., extinct
1771; of Italian descent). Or, a chief gules Crest — An eagle displayed
sable crowned or.
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Lumley (Lord Mayor of London). Argent, a chief
vert.
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Finally, there is Lumley of County Worcester described
by Sir Bernard Burke as follows:
"Lumley (co. Worcester). Argent a fess gules
between three pansy flowers proper."
I couldn't find any suitable clipart for "pansy flowers"
so I used a heraldic rose and as the pansies are supposed to be "proper",
i.e., represented in their natural colour; I chose blue and white because
that is the colour of pansy that I remember my grandfather, James
H. Lumley planting.
......Robert Sewell
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In the middle ages, the right to arms
was jealously guarded, and no person would have dared to use a heraldic
coat without justification, or could have hoped to escape detection and
punishment if he did.
Presumably, any Lumley could patent
a coat of arms based on (but not the same as) the arms pictured above.
The 2002 cost of patenting a coat of arms is
£2895,
or $4560 American as of November 2002. This is a whopping $7200 Canadian!
Fortunately, heraldry is now considered little more than a hobby, and people
are free to draw and use coats of arms without bothering to patent them.
(At $7200?? I'm glad I was seated when I figured that one out!)
Thanks to Darren
S. A. George of British Columbia for suggesting that ". . . we have our
own heraldic authority in Canada. This is part of the Governor General's
office . . .." Please visit The
Canadian Heraldic Authority which has a number of options and states
that as of 2005 ". . . the minimum cost of a grant of a coat of arms (shield,
crest, helmet, mantling, and motto) is likely to be around $1,900 . . .."
It appears that various options could double this amount. Be sure
to visit Darren's website which is devoted primarily to Heraldry in Canada:
"The Mad Alchemist's Heraldry"
For further information
on drawing your own arms, check the following links. Remember not
to take any of this too seriously; but please show respect for those who
choose to do so:
-
The
College of Arms — the official web site; worth a visit even if you
don't have $7200 to spare.
Please visit the Sewell
Genealogy Site Map for other pages in this series.
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