One of the heraldic shields in the stained-glass window of the Great Hall in the Aston Webb building of the University of Birmingham.
The south window was designed by Thomas Ralph Spence (1855-1913) and was installed 1908. There are 53 lights in all, focusing on the arms of the University itself, with the shields of the Midland counties above it, so that, as elsewhere, the decorative motifs "expressed the conviction that there was a symbiosis between the University and the region". Benefactors' arms are shown as well. (
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This light of the window displays a shield representing the county of Warwickshire. The Warwickshire Arms:
‘Official blazon
Arms : Sable a Walled Town with three Towers Argent issuing from each of the flanking Towers a demi Figure representing a Nightwatchman respectant winding a Horn Argent habited and capped Gules the central Tower charged with an Escutcheon Gules thereon a ragged Staff bendwise between in chief a Mullet of six points and an Increscent Silver.
Crest: On a Wreath of the Colours a demi Bear supporting a ragged Staff Sable.
Motto: 'ANTIQUUM OBTINENS' - Possessing antiquity or Holding fast to tradition.
Origin/meaning
The arms were officially granted on April 10, 1964.
The arms were granted in 1964, but are practically identical to the ancient seal of the Borough, which was recorded at the heraldic visitations to the county of Warwickshire in 1619 and 1682. This design appears to have been in use since the incorporation of Warwick in 1545.
The common seal showed a walled town with towered gateway, with two outer towers from which watchmen were winding their horns and two inner towers with spires. On the middle tower was an inecutcheon bearing a ragged staff, and at the top of the seal were a six pointed star and a crescent moon. When the arms were formally granted the field was fixed as sable, and the other charges as argent, save the watchmen's clothing and the inescutcheon which were made gules.
A crest was added, the famous Warwickshire (as found in the Warwickshire County Council arms) emblem of the bear and ragged staff, here coloured black.’ (
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The window is 'flanked by massive organ pipes and fine woodwork of the original organ cases...A late insertion, this was donated by Sir John Holder in May 1907...T.R. Spence designed the window and it has fifty-three light. The focus, as with the north front, is the University shield. Above it, in the spandrels, we find shields of the six Midland counties on either side of a full achievement of the arms of the City of Birmingham. The window, in other words, takes up the theme of civic commitment to the Midlands University announced by the entrance front, and this was emphasised by a display of county banners down the hall on either side. The other central lights speak of private support: at the top the Calthorpe arms and Sir John Holder's own shield at the bottom, below a woman holding
the Chamberlain crest.' 'The First Civic University: Birmingham 1880-1980, An Introductory History' by Eric Ives, Diane Drummond, Leonard Schwarz (ISBN: 1-902459-07-5)