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1. ROYAL SHIELD OF ARMS: The arms of England and Scotland quartered, with those of France, Ireland, and Hanover; the shield being encircled with the Garter.
FIRST (PRINCIPAL) QUARTER: England impaling Scotland. The arms of England placed side-by-side with those of Scotland to show the alliance (as with the arms of a married couple).
ARMS OF ENGLAND: Gules, three lions passant guardant in pale or [On a red field three golden lions one above the other walking along facing to the left watching sideways]
ARMS OF KING OF SCOTS: Or, a lion rampant within a double tressure flory counter-flory gules. [On a golden field a red lion erect, one paw on the ground, looking forward with tail erect within a border composed of two narrow parallel lines interlaced with fleur-de-lis pointing alternately inwards and outwards] The Hexham panel omits the tressure to the right of the lion rather than omitting the tressure to the left (heraldic dexter) which is the conventional way to show it.
SECOND QUARTER: France Modern. ARMS OF FRANCE: Azure, three fleur-de-lis. [A blue field with three golden fleur-de-lis, two over one]
THIRD QUARTER: Ireland. ARMS OF IRELAND: Azure, a harp or stringed argent. [On a blue field a golden harp with silver strings] Usually seven strings; the Hexham panel has ten golden strings.
FOURTH QUARTER: House of Hanover. Tierced in pairle reversed: 1) Gules, two leopards passant guardant in pale or (for Brunswick); 2) Or, seme of hearts gules, a lion rampant azure (for Luneburg); 3) Gules, a horse courant argent (for Westphalia); and over all an inescutcheon gules charged with the golden crown of Charlemagne.
Three parts divided vertically and by a chevron (a Continental form of marshalling). In the Hexham panel the lines of the chevron are curved, instead of the usual straight lines. The parts bear: 1) ARMS OF BRUNSWICK: on a red field two golden leopards walking along looking watching sideways; 2) ARMS OF LUNEBURG: on a golden field strewn with red hearts a blue lion erect; 3) ARMS OF WESTPHALIA: on a red field a silver galloping horse. Over all three the arms of office or badge of the Arch Treasurer of the Holy Roman Empire, an office held by George I, George II and George III: on a small red shield the Crown of Charlemagne.
THE GARTER: The Sovereign and Knights Companion of The Most Noble Order of the Garter have encircled their arms with a representation of the Garter, buckled and looped with the end pendant (hanging down) since the reign of Henry VIII. It is of deep blue velvet edged, buckled and adorned with gold and enscribed with the motto of the order: Honi soit qui mal y pense [Evil be to him who evil thinks]
2. THE ROYAL CREST: The Royal Crown proper upon the Royal Helm, thereon a lion statant guardant or, regally crowned proper.
THE ROYAL HELM: A golden helmet shown affronte [full-face], usually with seven golden bars for a vizor and with a scarlet lining showing through the vizor. In the Hexham panel it has eight bars. Upon the Royal Helm is:
THE ROYAL CROWN or CROWN OF STATE: The heraldic royal crown is the symbol of sovereignty; it is based on that made for Charles II. It is of gold, the rim is studded with pearls showing a sapphire between two emeralds with a ruby at either end. There are two arches studded with pearls, springing from crosses and fleur-de-lis set alternately upon the rim, surmounted by the orb – a golden ball surmounted by a cross. Within the Crown is:
CAP of MAINTENANCE of crimson velvet, lined and turned up at the rim with ermine (white with black flecks). In the Hexham panel the lining is omitted. The cap and helm are surmounted by
THE LION: A golden lion standing on all four paws, sideways on, but watching sideways, crowned with an arched royal crown in its usual colour.
3. THE MANTLING: Monarchs had used red mantling lined with ermine until Elizabeth I changed the red for gold. In the Hexham panel the mantling is wrongly coloured for the House of Hanover, being red lined with silver. The mantling was a small mantle or cloak attached to the helm and hanging down over the shoulders of the wearer, perhaps to protect the head and shoulders from the heat of the sun. It is a decorative accessory to the crest and shield which, because its design was not laid down, could be treated imaginatively by the draughtsman. It could have jagged edges to depict the rents and cuts received in battle.
4. THE SUPPORTERS: Two creatures, one on either side of the shield, literally supporting the shield:
Dexter: THE LION of ENGLAND: A lion rampant guardant or, regally crowned proper [A lion erect watching sideways royally crowned in its usual colours]
Sinister: THE UNICORN of SCOTLAND introduced by James VI of Scotland to replace the red dragon of Henry VIII: a unicorn argent, armed, unguled and crined, or [A silver unicorn with golden horn, mane, beard, tufts and hooves; about the neck a golden coronet composed of paw-shaped crosses and golden fleur-de-lis and attached to this was a golden chain passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back]
5. THE COMPARTMENT: Below the shield is a decorative panel often containing a grassy mound on which the supporters stand and rest the shield. In the Hexham panel the supporters stand on golden scrolls, with:
THE ROYAL BADGES: The English rose and the Scottish thistle slipped and leaved proper [with stalks]. Below the Badges is:
THE ROYAL MOTTO: Dieu et mon droit [My God and my right] It is in gold lettering on a deep blue background and is derived from a war-cry which has been used from the time of King Henry IV.
1990: “Woodworm prevention treatment carried out in … Royal arms panel on W wall of Nave.” [Churchwardens Record HEXAB9535 p6, 15 Oct]
2012: “Currently located by the South-West door where it is open to frequent changes in humidity and temperature, this 18thC panel will be restored and be shown to advantage in one of the public areas of the Carnaby Building. It will be housed in a museum standard and monitored protective casing. This will return the internal west elevation of the Abbey nave to its original Temple Moore design.” [Hexham Abbey collection faculty document.pdf, §4]
12May2022: Moved from W wall of Nave to W end of S wall (space previously occupied by the Loraine Hatchment [HEXAB3062]).