50 Notes on the Corporation Plate and Insignia of Wiltshire. 



The Mayor's Chain at present in use was formally presented 

 to the corporation hy E. H. Hulse, Esq., M.P. for Salisbury, 

 October 5th, 1893. 1 Mr. Hulse and the past and present members 

 of the corporation gave one link each, while the town clerk — Mr. 

 W. C. Powning — gave the badge. It is of 18-carat gold, and was 

 made by Messrs. T. and J. Bragg, of Birmingham, from a design 

 by Mr. J. W. Tonks after consultation with Mr. Alfred Gilbert, R.A. 



The badge is circular, with mouldings and ornamental border, 

 with the name " Salisbury " on enamelled bosses. Within this is a 

 six-arched canopy, in the centre of which are the city arms and 

 supporters, a rose above, and the motto in enamels " Civitas Nova? 

 Sarum " below. 



The circular links of the chain alternate with double-headed 

 eagles (the supporters of the city arms) . They are bordered with 

 crosses and fleur-de-lys. The central link has the old city seal in 

 enamel, the Madonna and Child above, an arch with a bishop within 

 it below. 



The other links have a series of armorial bearings in enamel 

 — the city arms, the cathedral cognizance, the arms of Henry III. 

 (who gave the charter in 1227), those of James I. (who gave another 

 charter), those of Queen Anne, and those of the present Queen — 

 whilst others bear the letter S. 



An inscription recording the gift of the chain is engraved on the 

 back of the badge. 



The old Mayor's Chain. From 1856 to 1893 a chain of silver- 

 gilt, bearing the Birmingham hall-mark and the date letter for 

 1856, with the maker's mark G. u., was in use. 



The badge is circular and watch-shaped, surrounded by an olive 

 leaf wreath, enclosing a shield of the city arms in enamel, with the 

 eagle supporters (only one of their wings shown) , and the motto 

 below " CIVITAS NOViC SARUSVi." On the back is inscribed 

 "Presented by the Citizens to Abraham Jackson, Esq., Mayor, for the 

 use of himself and successors in office, June, 1856." 



1 I am indebted for the above description to the columns of the Salisbury 

 Journal. I have not seen the new chain myself. — E.H.G, 



