We are all familiar with the fact that from time to time armorial bearings can be the subject of a name and arms clause in a will and thus be inherited by another but I had not thought that the additaments allowed to a member of the Peerage could be part of a testamentary disposition. I am still not convinced that they can but bring your attention to the armorial bearings used by Sir Quentin Charles Somerville Agnew-Somerville, 2nd baronet.
Sir Quentin inherited the Somerville estate in 1950 and under the terms of the same will, that of his uncle by marriage, the second and last Baron Athlumney (peer not feudal baron), by way of a name and arms clause added the name and arms of Somerville.
Page 49 of the 107th Burke’s Peerage and Baronetage shows an illustration of the 2nd baronet’s arms, the shield of which is surmounted by the coronet of a baron. For the benefit of those without access to the referenced publication, the image shows the shield of the second baronet viz: 1st & 4th Somerville, 2nd and 3rd Agnew. On top of the shield sits the coronet of a baron and then, floating above the coroneted shield are the two crests of Somerville and Agnew.
This is clearly the achievement of Agnew-Somerville and not the peerage achievement of Athlumney. The barons coronet is not mentioned at all in the blazon; it must therefore have been retained either with or without authority as an additament which clearly nods towards the lineage of the Somerville coat.
Whether permitted or not, it is there for all to see and, to my eyes at least, is not at all displeasing.
PS I have now uploaded a photograph of the relevant entry. Apologies for the quality as it is a photograph and not a scan.
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