Cheshire Heraldry - The Armorial Bearings of the Cheshire Visitations

The Armorial Bearings Exemplified in The Cheshire Visitations
illustrated in colour by Martin S. J. Goldstraw

Shakerley of Hulme
Arms: Argent, a chevron between three tufts of rushes Vert*.
Crest: A hare erect Sable supporting a garb Or.

* The more eagle eyed of my readers will notice that I have emblazoned these arms as Argent, a chevron between three hillocks Vert which is the way in which the arms have for some time been depicted and are so displayed by the present and 7th Shackerley baronet, Sir Nicholas Simon Adam Shakerley Bt.

Shenton of Shavington
Arms: Or, two bars Sable, the upper charged with four and the lower with three escallops Argent.

Sherard
Arms: Argent, a chevron Gules, between three torteaux, a crescent with a mullet for cadency.

Sherd of Sherd and Disley
Arms: Argent, on a bend Sable, a rose of the first, in sinister chief a hunting horn stringed of the second.
Crest: A hunting horn Argent, stringed Sable.

"Respite given for proofe of these arms, but no proofe made 1663."

Shipton of Alderley
Pedigree recorded but "No Armes produced."

Smallwood of Chelford
Arms: Checky Sable and Argent, on a chevron of the first a chess rook of the last.

"Respite given for proofe of this coat, but no proofe made."

Smethwick of Smethwick
Arms: Quarterly: 1 & 4 Or, three crosses pattee fitchee Sable [Smethwick]; 2 & 3 Vert, a cross engrailed Ermine [Wetenhall]
Crest: An arm embowed vested bendy Argent and Vert cuffed also Argent holding in the hand a lily flower proper stalked and leaved also Vert.

Spanne (Speune)
Arms: Gyronny Or and Azure, an escutcheon Gules charged with a lion's head erased Argent.
Crest: A lion's head Gules langued Azure collared Or.

"No proofe of this coate."

Sparke of Chester
Arms: Checky Or and Vert, a bend Ermine.
Crest: Issuant from a ducal coronet ......... a demi-panther guardant ...... inflamed*

* Although no tinctures are provided in the Visitations MSS, Burke's G.A. records the crest for Sparke (Nantwich) as:
Out of a ducal coronet Or a demi-panther rampant guardant Argent, spotted with various colours, fire issuing from the ears and mouth proper.

Stanley of Alderley
Arms: Argent, on a bend Azure three stags' heads caboshed Or a canton Gules.

Stanley of Hooton
Arms: Argent, on a bend Azure three stags' heads caboshed Or.