History - History of the Old Newtonians
Old Newtonians Armorial Bearing
The Crest:
The Crest is a device displayed on the helm or right above the shield. It is also another means of identification. Often whole families will have the same crest. Often these devices sit upon a wreath.
Often the crest will be an animal but it is not limited to just that. Although they are very common, they are not always present. It is up to the person designing the Achievement whether one is added or not.
The Wreath:
The Wreath, bandeau, or torse is composed of two rolls of silk or leather, of two different colors (normally the Family colors), twisted together; the colors alternate each other (as shown in the image bellow).
The purpose of the wreath was to encircle the helmet and support the crest.
The Mantling:
Mantling is the colorful and swirling drapes flowing from the helm and forming a decorative framing around the arms. Mantaling derives from actual usage; often knights would have cloth hanging from the wreath that was around their helm. This often served as protection to the knight's head.
The Helm:
The helm or helmet was used to protect the head of the knight in combat and support his crest. In the 17th century helms were designed to designate different ranks of people (Sovereign, peer, night, and gentleman). Today, although ignored, these helms are still only designated to those entitled to them.
The Shield:
The shield has always been the principal object for the display of armorial bearings, whether in war or tournament, or on seals and monuments. It has thus become closely associated with heraldry, and to this day, centuries after it ceased to be used as a means of defence, the shield continues as the figure on which arms usually appear.
Battle of Ascalon
The figure atop the crest is a Fatimid Soldier surrendering his sword to an ancestor of Alderman Gabriel Newton at the 11th century battle of Ascalon between the First Crusaders and the Fatamid rulers of Egypt.
The Fatimids were led by vizier al-Afdal Shahanshah, who commanded perhaps as many as 50 000 troops (other estimates range from 20-30 000). His army consisted of Seljuk Turks, Arabs, Persians, Armenians, Kurds, and Ethiopians. He was intending to besiege the crusaders in Jerusalem, The precise number of crusaders is unknown, but the number given by Raymond of Aguilers is 1200 knights and 9000 infantry.
According to most accounts (both crusader and Muslim), the Fatimids were caught unprepared and the battle was short. Al-Afdal and his panicked troops fled back to the safety of the heavily fortified city. Al-Afdal left behind his camp and its treasures, which were captured. Crusader losses are unknown, but the Egyptians lost about 10-12 000 men.
Alderman Gabriel Newton (1683-1762)
Alderman Gabriel Newton was born in Leicester, and was Mayor in 1732. He was originally a wool-comber, and became landlord of the Horse & Trumpet Inn near the High Cross. Having no descendants, he devoted his wealth to a charitable school, which opened at St Mary de Castro in 1785.
The wealth acquired by Leicester from the knitting industry was used to fund a new town hall. The area once occupied by the town's cattle market was cleared to make way in 1876 for a grand Queen Anne style red-brick and cream stone building.
A new square was laid out in front of the hall, complete with a bronze fountain. The square became home to Leicester's memorial to the dead of the Boer War.
A few hundred metres away at the junction of the High Street and Gallowtree Gate, a grand clock tower with pink granite and marble columns was built.
The tower provides a focal point for the city and incorporates statues of famous Leicester residents, Simon de Montfort, William Wigston, Sir Thomas White, and Alderman Gabriel Newton.
The Crest:
The Crest is a device displayed on the helm or right above the shield. It is also another means of identification. Often whole families will have the same crest. Often these devices sit upon a wreath.
Often the crest will be an animal but it is not limited to just that. Although they are very common, they are not always present. It is up to the person designing the Achievement whether one is added or not.
The Wreath:
The Wreath, bandeau, or torse is composed of two rolls of silk or leather, of two different colors (normally the Family colors), twisted together; the colors alternate each other (as shown in the image bellow).
The purpose of the wreath was to encircle the helmet and support the crest.
The Mantling:
Mantling is the colorful and swirling drapes flowing from the helm and forming a decorative framing around the arms. Mantaling derives from actual usage; often knights would have cloth hanging from the wreath that was around their helm. This often served as protection to the knight's head.
The Helm:
The helm or helmet was used to protect the head of the knight in combat and support his crest. In the 17th century helms were designed to designate different ranks of people (Sovereign, peer, night, and gentleman). Today, although ignored, these helms are still only designated to those entitled to them.
The Shield:
The shield has always been the principal object for the display of armorial bearings, whether in war or tournament, or on seals and monuments. It has thus become closely associated with heraldry, and to this day, centuries after it ceased to be used as a means of defence, the shield continues as the figure on which arms usually appear.
Battle of Ascalon
The figure atop the crest is a Fatimid Soldier surrendering his sword to an ancestor of Alderman Gabriel Newton at the 11th century battle of Ascalon between the First Crusaders and the Fatamid rulers of Egypt.
The Fatimids were led by vizier al-Afdal Shahanshah, who commanded perhaps as many as 50 000 troops (other estimates range from 20-30 000). His army consisted of Seljuk Turks, Arabs, Persians, Armenians, Kurds, and Ethiopians. He was intending to besiege the crusaders in Jerusalem, The precise number of crusaders is unknown, but the number given by Raymond of Aguilers is 1200 knights and 9000 infantry.
According to most accounts (both crusader and Muslim), the Fatimids were caught unprepared and the battle was short. Al-Afdal and his panicked troops fled back to the safety of the heavily fortified city. Al-Afdal left behind his camp and its treasures, which were captured. Crusader losses are unknown, but the Egyptians lost about 10-12 000 men.
Alderman Gabriel Newton (1683-1762)
Alderman Gabriel Newton was born in Leicester, and was Mayor in 1732. He was originally a wool-comber, and became landlord of the Horse & Trumpet Inn near the High Cross. Having no descendants, he devoted his wealth to a charitable school, which opened at St Mary de Castro in 1785.
The wealth acquired by Leicester from the knitting industry was used to fund a new town hall. The area once occupied by the town's cattle market was cleared to make way in 1876 for a grand Queen Anne style red-brick and cream stone building.
A new square was laid out in front of the hall, complete with a bronze fountain. The square became home to Leicester's memorial to the dead of the Boer War.
A few hundred metres away at the junction of the High Street and Gallowtree Gate, a grand clock tower with pink granite and marble columns was built.
The tower provides a focal point for the city and incorporates statues of famous Leicester residents, Simon de Montfort, William Wigston, Sir Thomas White, and Alderman Gabriel Newton.
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