Chester Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. The office of Chester Herald dates from the 14th century, and it is reputed that the holder was herald to Edward the Black Prince. In the reign of King Richard II the officer was attached to the Principality of Chester, which was a perquisite of the then Prince of Wales. In the reign of King Henry VIII the title lapsed for a time but, since 1525, the office of Chester has been one of unbroken succession, as a herald in ordinary. The badge of office is taken from the arms of the Earl of Chester and is blazoned as A Garb ensigned of the Royal Crown Or.

The current Chester Herald of Arms is Dominic Ingram.

Holders of the office Arms Name Date of appointmentRefJohn (surname unknown)(1393)William Bruges1398–1413James Billett(Henry VI)William Tyndale or Tendale1443–1447John Tyndale(1447)William Whiting(Henry VI)John Water or Walter(1455)Richard Stanton(Henry VI/Edward IV)Roger Stamford(Edward IV)Roger Bromley.(1483)Thomas Whiting(1493)Randolph Jackson1533–1540William Flower1540–1561Robert Cooke1562–1566John Hart1566–1574 Edmund Knight1574–1592James Thomas1592–1603William Penson1603–1617Thomas Knight1617–1618Henry Chitting1618–1637Edward Walker1638–1644William Dugdale1644–1660Thomas Lee1660–1667Thomas May1677–1689Charles Mawson1689–1721Edward Stibbs1721–1739Francis Hutchenson1739–1752John Leake1752–1790George Leake1791–1834Walter Blount1834–1859Edward Stephen Dendy1859–1864Henry Lane1864–1913Thomas Joseph-Watkin1913–1915Sir Arthur Cochrane1915–1926Sir John Heaton-Armstrong1926–1956 James Frere1956–1960Sir Walter Verco1960–1971Hubert Chesshyre1978–1995Timothy Duke1995–2014Christopher Fletcher-Vane2017–2023Dominic Ingram2024–present

See also Heraldry Officer of arms

References Citations

Bibliography The College of Arms, Queen Victoria Street: being the sixteenth and final monograph of the London Survey Committee, Walter H. Godfrey, assisted by Sir Anthony Wagner, with a complete list of the officers of arms, prepared by H. Stanford London, (London, 1963) A History of the College of Arms &c, Mark Noble, (London, 1804)

External links The College of Arms CUHGS Officer of Arms Index