Heraldic visitation

Tours of inspection undertaken by Kings of Arms

Heraldic visitations were tours of inspection undertaken by Kings of Arms (or alternatively by heralds, or junior officers of arms, acting as their deputies) throughout England, Wales and Ireland. Their purpose was to register and regulate the coats of arms of nobility, gentry and boroughs, and to record pedigrees. They took place from 1530 to 1688, and their records (akin to an upper class census) provide important source material for historians and genealogists.

The principal records to emerge from the visitations were pedigrees, initially recorded on loose sheets of paper, and afterwards bound together as notebooks. In some cases, the sheets would include blank shields which had been drawn in advance (or at a later date printed), to simplify the process of recording coats of arms. The persons whose pedigrees were recorded were required (from about 1570 onwards) to certify them by signature, and where these original draft pedigrees have survived they are known as "originals with signatures". The signed copies were taken back to the College of Arms, where fair copies were made to a higher standard and preserved as the "office copies". The Harleian Collection of the British Library is particularly rich in such records. Many visitation records have been published over the years, by the Harleian Society, by county record societies, and a few privately (see listing below). However, because until relatively recently the College of Arms restricted access to its records, many of the older published editions were necessarily based on the unofficial second or third generation copies in other collections, and may therefore not always be reliable. From as early as the 1530s, officers of arms on visitation frequently also compiled what were known as "church notes". These were fieldnotes (usually in the form of sketches) of coats of arms observed on church monuments, in stained glass windows, or on display in private houses. Sometimes, drawings were also made of non heraldic antiquities, such as medieval architectural features, views of towns, Roman inscriptions and even Stonehenge. The 17th century visitations generated a growing number of supplementary papers, including warrants, lists of persons who disclaimed any pretence to arms, lists of persons summoned to appear before the heralds (including those who had not appeared), records of fees paid, and miscellaneous correspondence.

Visitations were conducted by or in the name of the two provincial Kings of Arms, Clarenceux and Norroy, within their respective provinces. In the following lists, the Deputies are the officers of arms who actually carried out the visitations. Where no Deputy is named, the visitation can be assumed to have been conducted by the King of Arms in person.

The Southern Province, the jurisdiction of Clarenceux King of Arms, comprised that part of England south of the River Trent, i. e. the counties of Bedford, Berks, Buckingham, Cambridge, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Essex, Gloucester, Hereford, Hertford, Huntingdon, Kent, Leicester, Lincoln, Middlesex, Monmouth, Norfolk, Northampton, Oxford, Rutland, Salop, Somerset, Southampton, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex, Warwick, Wilton, Worcester, and the City of London; and South Wales. Year County or area visited Clarenceux King of Arms Deputy or DeputiesNotes 1530 Kent, Sussex Thomas Benolt 1530–33 London churches Thomas Benolt Thomas Hawley, Carlisle Herald 1531 Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall Thomas Benolt 1531 Wales and Herefordshire Thomas Benolt William Fellow, Lancaster Herald 1532(?) Surrey, Hampshire, Isle of Wight Thomas Benolt 1532 London Companies Thomas Benolt The record is not necessarily that of a visitation. 1532–33 Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire Thomas Benolt 1552 Essex, Surrey, Hampshire Thomas Hawley A purported visitation or visitations of which there is no College record. 1558 Essex William Harvey A possible visitation of which there is no formal College record. 1561 Suffolk William Harvey 1562–64 Lincolnshire William Harvey Robert Cooke, Chester Herald 1563 Norfolk William Harvey 1563 Leicestershire, Warwickshire William Harvey Robert Cooke, Chester Herald 1564 Devon William Harvey 1565 Wiltshire William Harvey 1565 Dorset William Harvey 1566 Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire William Harvey Richmond Herald: either Nicholas Narboone or Hugh Cotgrave 1566 Bedfordshire William Harvey 1566 Buckinghamshire William Harvey 1566 Oxfordshire William Harvey 1566 Berkshire William Harvey 1568 & later London Robert Cooke 1569 Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Shropshire Robert Cooke 1570 Essex Robert Cooke 1570 Sussex Robert Cooke 1571–72 Hertfordshire, Middlesex Robert Cooke 1572 Surrey Robert Cooke 1573 Cornwall Robert Cooke 1573 Somerset Robert Cooke 1574 Kent Robert Cooke 1574 Oxford University Robert Cooke Richard Lee, Portcullis Pursuivant 1574–75 Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire Robert Cooke Richard Lee, Portcullis Pursuivant 1575 Cambridgeshire Robert Cooke 1575–76 Hampshire Robert Cooke 1576(?) Norfolk Robert Cooke Perhaps in progress October 1576; one entry dated 1589. 1577 Suffolk Robert Cooke 1584–86 Shropshire Robert Cooke Richard Lee, Portcullis Pursuivant 1589–92 Kent Robert Cooke Thomas Drury 1590 London Companies Robert Cooke 1591 Somerset Robert Cooke Ralph Brooke, Rouge Croix Pursuivant 1592 Lincolnshire Robert Cooke Richard Lee, Richmond Herald 1592 Northamptonshire Robert Cooke Visitation intended but never carried out. 1612 Suffolk William Camden John Raven, Richmond Herald 1613 Norfolk William Camden John Raven, Richmond Herald 1613 Huntingdonshire William Camden Nicholas Charles, Lancaster Herald 1614 Essex William Camden John Raven, Richmond Herald 1618–19 Northamptonshire and Rutland William Camden Augustine Vincent, Rouge Rose Pursuivant Extraordinary 1619 Warwickshire William Camden Sampson Lennard, Bluemantle Pursuivant, and Augustine Vincent, Rouge Rose Pursuivant Extraordinary 1619 Leicestershire William Camden Sampson Lennard, Bluemantle Pursuivant, and Augustine Vincent, Rouge Rose Pursuivant Extraordinary 1619 Cambridgeshire William Camden Henry St George, Richmond Herald 1619 Kent William Camden John Philipot, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1620 Devon William Camden Henry St George, Richmond Herald, and Sampson Lennard, Bluemantle Pursuivant 1620 Cornwall William Camden Henry St George, Richmond Herald, and Sampson Lennard, Bluemantle Pursuivant 1622–23 Hampshire William Camden John Philipot, Somerset Herald 1623 Surrey William Camden Samuel Thompson, Windsor Herald, and Augustine Vincent, Rouge Croix Pursuivant 1623 Gloucestershire William Camden Henry Chitting, Chester Herald, and John Philipot, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1623 Berkshire William Camden Henry Chitting, Chester Herald, and John Philipot, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1623 Shropshire William Camden Robert Treswell, Somerset Herald, and Augustine Vincent, Rouge Croix Pursuivant 1623 Wiltshire William Camden Henry St George, Richmond Herald, and Sampson Lennard, Bluemantle Pursuivant 1623 Dorset William Camden Henry St George, Richmond Herald, and Sampson Lennard, Bluemantle Pursuivant 1623 Somerset William Camden Henry St George, Richmond Herald, and Sampson Lennard, Bluemantle Pursuivant 1634 Hampshire Sir Richard St George John Philipot, Somerset Herald 1634 Essex Sir Richard St George George Owen, York Herald, and Henry Lilly, Rouge Rose Pursuivant Extraordinary 1634 Lincolnshire Sir Richard St George Henry Chitting, Chester Herald, and Thomas Thompson, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1633–35 London Sir Richard St George Sir Henry St George, Richmond Herald 1634 London Companies Sir Richard St George 1634 Herefordshire Sir Richard St George 1634 Buckinghamshire Sir Richard St George John Philipot, Somerset Herald, and William Ryley, Bluemantle Pursuivant 1633–34 Sussex Sir Richard St George John Philipot, Somerset Herald, and George Owen, York Herald 1634 Hertfordshire Sir Richard St George 1634 Middlesex Sir Richard St George 1634 Oxfordshire Sir Richard St George John Philipot, Somerset Herald, and William Ryley, Bluemantle Pursuivant 1634 Worcestershire Sir Richard St George George Owen, York Herald, and Henry Lilly, Rouge Rose Pursuivant Extraordinary 1634 Bedfordshire Sir Richard St George George Owen, York Herald, and Henry Lilly, Rouge Rose Pursuivant Extraordinary 1662–64 Shropshire Sir Edward Bysshe William Dugdale, Norroy King of Arms 1662–68 Surrey Sir Edward Bysshe 1662–68 Sussex Sir Edward Bysshe 1663 Middlesex Sir Edward Bysshe William Ryley, Lancaster Herald, and Henry Dethick, Rouge Croix Pursuivant 1663 Kent Sir Edward Bysshe 1664 London Sir Edward Bysshe Francis Sandford, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant, and Thomas Holford, Portcullis Pursuivant 1664–66 Berkshire Sir Edward Bysshe Elias Ashmole, Windsor Herald 1664–68 Norfolk Sir Edward Bysshe 1664–68 Essex Sir Edward Bysshe 1664–68 Suffolk Sir Edward Bysshe 1666 Lincolnshire Sir Edward Bysshe 1669 Bedfordshire Sir Edward Bysshe 1669 Hertfordshire Sir Edward Bysshe 1669–75 Buckinghamshire Sir Edward Bysshe 1668–75 Oxfordshire Sir Edward Bysshe 1672 Somerset Sir Edward Bysshe 1677 Wiltshire Sir Edward Bysshe 1677 Dorset Sir Edward Bysshe 1681–82 Northamptonshire Sir Henry St George Francis Burghill, Somerset Herald, Thomas May, Chester Herald, and Gregory King, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1681–82 Rutland Sir Henry St George Francis Burghill, Somerset Herald, Thomas May, Chester Herald, and Gregory King, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1681–83 Leicestershire Sir Henry St George Thomas May, Chester Herald, Henry Dethick, Richmond Herald, and Gregory King, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1683 Warwickshire Sir Henry St George Thomas May, Chester Herald, Henry Dethick, Richmond Herald, and Gregory King, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1682–83 Worcestershire Sir Henry St George Thomas May, Chester Herald, Henry Dethick, Richmond Herald, and Gregory King, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1682–83 Gloucestershire Sir Henry St George Thomas May, Chester Herald, Henry Dethick, Richmond Herald, and Gregory King, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1683 Herefordshire Sir Henry St George Henry Dethick, Richmond Herald, and Gregory King, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1683 Monmouthshire Sir Henry St George Henry Dethick, Richmond Herald, and Gregory King, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1684 Cambridgeshire Sir Henry St George 1684 Huntingdonshire Sir Henry St George 1686 Hampshire Sir Henry St George 1687–1700 London Sir Henry St George

The Northern Province, the jurisdiction of Norroy King of Arms, comprised that part of England north of the River Trent, i. e. the counties of Chester, Cumberland, Derby, Durham, Lancaster, Northumberland, Nottingham, Stafford, Westmorland and York; and North Wales. The Trent ran through Staffordshire, and the county was therefore technically divided between the two provinces; but for the purposes of visitation it was generally treated (sometimes through a process of deputation) as falling under the jurisdiction of Norroy. Year County or area visited Norroy King of Arms Deputy or DeputiesNotes 1530–31 Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland, and LancashireThomas Tonge Began in Nottinghamshire. 1532–33 Lancashire and parts of Cheshire Thomas Tonge William Fellow, Lancaster Herald 1552 Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland and CumberlandWilliam Harvey Began in Yorkshire. 1558 Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumberland and CheshireLawrence Dalton Began at Newcastle. Conducted by Dalton in person, accompanied by William Colbarne, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant, probably his nephew. Of uncertain authority, as Dalton had not yet been formally created Norroy. 1563–67 Yorkshire and other northern countiesWilliam Flower 1566 Staffordshire William Flower 1566 Cheshire William Flower 1567 Lancashire William Flower 1569 Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire William Flower Robert Glover, Somerset Herald Either conducted by Flower in person accompanied by Glover, or by Glover as Flower's deputy. 1569 Staffordshire William Flower 1575 The North: including Yorkshire, County Dutham and Northumberland William Flower Robert Glover, Somerset Herald Either conducted by Flower in person accompanied by Glover, or by Glover as Flower's deputy. 1580 Cheshire William Flower Robert Glover, Somerset Herald Either conducted by Flower in person accompanied by Glover, or by Glover as Flower's deputy. 1583 Staffordshire William Flower Robert Glover, Somerset Herald Either conducted by Flower in person accompanied by Glover, or by Glover as Flower's deputy. 1584–85 Yorkshire William Flower Robert Glover, Somerset Herald Either conducted by Flower in person accompanied by Glover, or by Glover as Flower's deputy. 1591 Chester Edmund Knight Thomas Chaloner, deputy herald Unofficial: conducted by Chaloner without formal authorisation. 1611 Derbyshire Sir Richard St George Conducted by St George in person, accompanied by Nicholas Charles, Lancaster Herald, and Henry St George, Rouge Rose Pursuivant Extraordinary (Sir Richard's son). 1612 Yorkshire Sir Richard St George 1613 Lancashire Sir Richard St George 1614 Cheshire Sir Richard St George Conducted by St George in person, accompanied by Henry St George, Bluemantle Pursuivant, his son. 1614 Nottinghamshire Sir Richard St George 1614 Staffordshire Sir Richard St George 1615 County Durham Sir Richard St George 1615 Northumberland Sir Richard St George Conducted by St George in person, accompanied by Henry St George, Bluemantle Pursuivant, his son. 1634 Derbyshire [Sir William le Neve] Henry Chitting, Chester Herald, and Thomas Thompson, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant Although undertaken during le Neve's kingship, this visitation was conducted under a joint commission granted in 1633 to Sir John Borough, Norroy 1623–33 and Garter King of Arms 1633–43, and Sir Richard St George, Clarenceux King of Arms 1623–35. 1662–64 Derbyshire William Dugdale 1662–64 Nottinghamshire William Dugdale 1662–64 [Shropshire] William Dugdale Conducted by Dugdale as deputy to Sir Edward Bysshe, Clarenceux, as the county lay within the Southern Province. 1663–64 Staffordshire William Dugdale 1663–64 Cheshire William Dugdale 1664–65 Westmorland William Dugdale 1664–65 Cumberland William Dugdale 1664–65 Lancashire William Dugdale 1665–66 Yorkshire William Dugdale 1666 County Durham William Dugdale 1666 Northumberland William Dugdale 1670 Flintshire William Dugdale Robert Chaloner, Lancaster Herald, and Francis Sandford, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant Conducted under a deputation to visit North Wales, granted in 1670.

Since the practices of Ulster King of Arms so closely followed those of the English College of Arms, it is hardly surprising that the Irish officers of arms undertook heraldic visitations in their province. The purpose behind these visitations was twofold: to prevent the assumption of arms by unqualified people, and to record the arms of the gentry that were unknown to Ulster office. The first visitation was held by Nicholas Narbon, the second Ulster King of Arms, in 1569. He was authorized to reform practices which were contrary to good armorial practice. He conducted six visitations (Dublin in 1568–1573, Drogheda and Ardee in 1570, Dublin in 1572, Swords in 1572, Cork in 1574, and Limerick in 1574). One of his successors, Daniel Molyneux had the commission renewed, and mounted several visitations. Although Molyneux's last visitation – of Wexford – was the last proper visitation, two other expeditions occurred after 1618 by subsequent Ulster Kings of Arms. The visitations were not very extensive. The officers would not often be found in the disturbed countryside. Thus the visitations are confined to areas under firm control of the Dublin administration. Today, the original visitation and related manuscripts are in the custody of the Chief Herald of Ireland. Copies are also deposited at the College of Arms in London.