The Titchfield Emblem
The emblem was designed and crafted by three Titchfield enthusiastic locals who got together in the autumn of 2017 and convened the first of many informal meetings in the Queen’s Head pub!
The mission, other than enjoying a good drink, was to try and develop more of a “symbolic identity reflecting the ancient history of Titchfield”.
Sketches developed from beer mats and scraps of paper and an emblem was finally established as the best way to symbolise the rich history of Titchfield.
Later, a fourth local and well-respected historian Ken Groves (President of the Titchfield History Society) sagely advised on more subtle detail regarding the historic past of the village and surrounding area.
The border is a rose petal border with a mix of red Lancastrian and white Yorkist tips representing the monarch dynasties that have been closely associated with the village.
Fleur de lys in the petals further symbolise royalty and can still be found on some old tiles in the abbey symbolising the Premonstratensian monks who originally inhabited the abbey.
Four quadrants are separated vertically by a variation of Shakespeare’s spear (It is claimed he spent 7 lost years as a teacher in a school opposite the abbey and the 3rd Earl of Southampton was his Patron).
The Titchfield Emblem on one of the entry signs to the village.
Note the tip of the spear is disguised as a nib! Horizontally the quadrants are separated by Saint Wilfred’s crozier (staff) who built Anglo Saxon churches along the Meon valley including the very ancient Saint Peter’s church.
Each quadrant has a key symbol which represents an ancient and important historic geographical site in Titchfield.
The top two quadrants include the cross keys of Saint Peter representing Saint Peter’s church from Anglo-Saxon times, and the four towers which represent Titchfield Abbey (before it was destroyed by Henry VIII and converted into Place House by the Wriothesley family).
The four towers are in the shape of a cross to symbolise what was once a religious building. Note the yellow lion in the centre.
The lion was brought into the Abbey for Henry VI ‘s wedding to Margaret of Anjou and returned to the tower of London after the ceremony.
The bottom two quadrants show a medieval ship representing the old port in Titchfield before the estuary was blocked off from the sea, and a white falcon representing what is now the Bird Haven and simultaneously the Wriothesley Falcon now seen to be flying away.
The Titchfield History Society is the custodian of the emblem and they own the copyright. All profits relating to sales of the emblem will go towards preserving the history of Titchfield village.
The Titchfield History Society are investigating selling flags, banners bunting and mugs in local shops or garden centres if there is enough demand. In the longer term, THS are also considering opening an online shop on their website to include all History Society gifts such as books, cards and other items.
In the meantime, those who wish to buy some stock now with the village emblem on it can contact the History Society on their website “link contact us” and they will endeavour to help. Good ideas always welcomed!