Canterbury

[greenrook]

Why does Canterbury's City Arms have three Cornish choughs on it? Given that until recently these birds were extinct here in Cornwall, and I believe they disappeared from other parts of England before we lost them in Cornwall

[dzug]

They are to do with Thomas a Becket - his connection with Canterbury is well known but why choughs were in his coat of arms I don't know.

[greenrook]

Oh, that was Becket's coat of arms? I didn't know that. The chough is on the arms of Cornwall of course, but away back in the 9th century I don't suppose the bird was associated with this county, though apparently it was then common here.

[jno]

apparently they were in Kent more recently:

http://www.choughs.co.uk/

(skip the cricket stuff)

[greenrook]

really interesting everyone, thanks. By the way, the choughs have been reintroduced here now, and are doing well.

[Octavius]

Although first registered at the College of Heralds in 1619, Canterbury's coat of arms is medieval in origin and appeared on official documents as long ago as 1380.
Canterbury's links with Royalty - it has been a royal city since at least the 6th century - are denoted by the heraldic leopard, whilst the three black choughs are taken from the arms ascribed to Thomas Becket.

The Heraldic description, or blazon, of the Coat of Arms is: 'Argent Three Cornish Choughs Two and one Sable Beaked and Legged Gules on a Chief of the Last a Leopard Passant Gardant Or'.

In heraldry a �beckit� is a chough, from Thomas a Becket who had three choughs on his coat of arms.

[greenrook]

Well, that answers my question Octavius - the chough was a 'beckit' and dear old Thomas obviously liked the pun on his name. Thank you all once again...