Where: Queen
Victoria Street, EC4
What: The
college of arms or heralds college deals with all matters relating
to heraldry, genealogy and state ceremonials. In simple terms,
family crests. It is the official repository
of the coats of arms and pedigrees of English, Welsh, Northern
Irish
and Commonwealth families and their descendants.
The college
consists of three Kings of Arms (Garter, Clarenceux, and Norroy & Ulster),
six Heralds and four Pursuivants. appointed by the Sovereign.
It sits within a building, Derby
House, that was reconstructed atter
the Great Fire of 1666 and was presented to the College by Queen
Mary I (Mary Tudor) in 1554.
Nearest
underground station: Blackfriars,
Mansion House
Opening
times: The
panelled Earl Marshal’s Court is open 10 am. to 4 p.m. Monday
to Friday.
Admission
charges: Free access to the wood panelled
entrance room. Tours
are availble by arangement to view the records room and other
parts of the building, but these are subject to a fee.
Website: college-of-arms.gov.uk
London
Hotels (these links are to another website)