Cash for Lochgilphead Coat of Arms
LOCHGILPHEAD Community Council hopes to raise £1,600 to buy Lochgilphead’s Coat of Arms and share it with the community.
Community councillors plan to apply to the Court of the Lord Lyon, the heraldic authority for Scotland, which registers and grants coats of arms and has the legal power to prosecute anyone who uses unauthorised arms.
The court’s website explains: ‘A Coat of Arms belongs only to one individual person and can only be used by that person and no one else.
‘For a person to be able to use a Coat of Arms, it is necessary for that individual person to apply for a personal Coat of Arms to be granted to him or her.’
The origin of the Coat of Arms was a jacket or tabard worn by a mediaeval knight over his armour to identify himself.
The Arms of the Burgh of Lochgilphead were granted on January 21 1949, but reverted to the Crown on the reform of Local Authority Government in 1975.
The shield depicts an anchor ‘paleways’ (vertical, in the ancient language of heraldry) and a herring ‘fessways’ (horizontal), with a rope reflexed around them. Below the shield, placed in an ‘escrol’, lies the Gaelic motto ‘Dochas’ ‘Hope’.
The black field and gold anchor represent the livery colours of the Duke of Argyll, while the green and silver of the rope refer to the sea and Loch Gilp, at the head of which the town stands.
Lochgilphead Community Council treasurer Brian McLennan told the February meeting in Lochgilphead Community Centre: ‘We can apply to buy it, so other groups can use it.’
Convenor Andrew Buntin added: ‘We could let charities and armed forces day use it.
‘They would have to ask us to use it. It was unanimous last time at the community council meeting to go for it. It gives the community an identity.’
Arms are granted by the Lord Lyon and fees are charged to cover expenses. The £1,600 total cost includes a £924 legal fee, providing permanent protection against third party use, £610 for the artwork on vellum and £65 on materials.
‘It does belong to the community,’ said Mr Buntin. ‘We should get it back.’