If you have ever wondered why the landlocked county of Bedfordshire has three seashells on its flag, then a historic coat of arms up for sale in Woburn next month may provide the answer.
The wooden shield, dating from the 19th century, is going under the hammer at Hanson Ross’s auction in Woburn on Saturday, 17 January, and features the same ancient motif.
It shows a heraldic lion beneath three scallops – all derived from the Duke of Bedford’s coat of arms.
Hanson Ross’s director, Amanda Butler, said: “If you live in Bedfordshire, you will be familiar with the three shells on our flag. They feature on the coat of arms of the Russell family, who later became the dukes of Bedford. But why seashells?”
According to experts, escallops – as they are known in heraldry – represent someone who has taken part in a pilgrimage.
“From the 11th century onwards, Santiago de Compostela in Spain was one of the three great Christian pilgrimages, alongside Rome and Jerusalem,” explained Amanda.
Families with an ancestor who completed this pilgrimage would incorporate the symbol into their coat of arms.
“Even today, pilgrims on the ancient route collect and wear scallop shells as a badge of honour and proof of their journey, with the shell’s radiating ribs said to represent the many routes all leading to one shrine,” said Amanda.
“We don’t know exactly which member of the Russell family went on this holy journey but one of them must have or, at least, want to show support for such an endeavour.”
The coat of arms also includes a rampant lion, a common heraldic symbol for courage and nobility.
The crest features prominently around Woburn Abbey, the ancestral seat of the dukes of Bedford since it was granted to the 1st earl, John Russell, in 1547 by Edward VI.
The coat of arms, made of tiger wood, has a guide price of £100 – £200 at Hanson Ross’s sale at Woburn Hotel on 17 January.
Amanda said: “For local interest or decorative appeal, this shield couldn’t be better; it would make a wonderful addition to any Bedfordshire home and a great talking point.”
The current county flag, with red and yellow sections representing the Beauchamp family and blue and white wavy lines showing the River Great Ouse, was adopted in 2014.
The design is based on the banner of the arms of the former Bedfordshire County Council, granted in 1951 by the College of Arms.
