Academic Heraldry in the United Kingdom

Roger Forder <100523.201@CompuServe.COM> writes:

Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London. These arms (granted by Royal Warrant in 1909) are distinguished ones, namely: Per fess, in chief the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom, in base or, an open book proper inscribed with the word "Scientia". It is slightly unfortunate, therefore, that, in this Web version, the lion rampant of Scotland within the Royal Arms is bright blue rather than red! Also noticeable is that the pages of the book are a rather fetching ice-blue colour (not very proper!).
University of Surrey. This is the most elaborate portrayal of arms that I have found so far, since, as well as the shield, it has mantling, helm and crest. The shield is: Or, three swords palewise, points downwards gules; on a chief sable a pale checky azure and or between two woolpacks argent. The crest is: On a wreath or and azure, a stag trippant proper, resting the dexter forehoof on a key or. Granted 1966. A full account of these arms was published in issue 101 of "The Coat of Arms". It is worth mentioning that the checky pale is a reference to the arms (Checky or and azure) of the Warenne earls of Surrey (13th century). The late Sir Anthony Wagner suggested that this coat has claims to be the oldest known to heraldry, first appearing on seals of the Warenne ancestors dated to the first half of the 12th century. It's nice to see it making a cameo appearance on the Internet 850 years later.

University of Reading. The blazon is: Per fess gules and sable, in chief three escallops fesswise or, in base on a cross engrailed argent a rose of the first barbed and seeded proper. Granted 1896. As it happens, the origin of the arms is described in the most recent edition of "The Coat of Arms" (issue 169). Among a number of points of interest, the cross engrailed argent on a sable field has an ancestry that goes back through Christ Church Oxford and Cardinal Wolsey to the ancient Ufford earls of Suffolk (from whom Wolsey quite unwarrantably purloined it).

University of Cambridge. The blazon is: Gules, on a cross ermine between four lions passant guardant or, a Bible lying fessways of the field, clasped and garnished of the third, the clasps in base. Granted in 1573. There are several arms of some Cambridge Colleges: