THE KNIGHT
The Knight piece takes the form of a Bear’s head – a reflection of the New Isles “merbear” featured on the blazon and a reference to our manorial past in Warwickshire, England where the county emblem is a Bear and Staff. The first recorded instance of this symbol being used can be found in the original seal and crest of the Earl of Warwick, designed before the fourteenth century. The current holders of the title of Earl of Warwick, the Greville family, were granted the symbol of their predecessors, a "bear erect argent, muzzled gules, supporting a ragged staff of the first", shortly after being given the title in 1759. This crest is still used by the Earls today. The “merbear” icon is a rare but official figure used in traditional heraldry. It is especially relevant for New Weddington – demonstrating the merging of the Old Manor’s symbol with the New Manor’s ocean island status, reflecting our motto: “from land to sea reborn”. |
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