The Ebook "The Book of Public Arms (visit
link) has this to say about the Ironmongers' coat-of-arms:
"IRONMONGERS, The Worshipful Company of, London. (Incorporated 20th March
1463.) Argent, on a chevron gules between three steel gads azure, three swivels
or (the centre one palewise, the others chevronwise). Crest — On a wreath of the
colours, two scaly lizards erect on their hind feet combatant proper (i.e. vert),
each gorged with a plain collar or, the collars chained together, a chain with a
ring at the end pendant between the two lizards of the last. Supporters — Two
lizards proper as in the crest. Motto — " God is our strength " (anciently "Assher
Dure").
[Granted 1st September 1455 (Grant printed "Herald and Genealogist," i. 39);
confirmed 1530. Arms and crest regranted with supporters by William Hervey,
Clarenceux, 28th May 1560, and Hervey's grant confirmed, approved, and entered
by Henry St George at the Visitation of London, 1634.]"
The Ironmongers' Company website (visit
link) adds:
"The earliest records suggest that the Ironmongers, then known as Ferroners,
were an effective body in 1300, when they took action against the smiths of the
Wealds of Kent and Sussex over the quality of iron supplied for the wheels of
carts in the City of London. By 1328 they were regarded as a firmly established
brotherhood, joining in the elections of the City officials and choosing four of
their members to treat with the Mayor and Sheriffs.The Ironmongers' received a
grant of arms in 1455, describing them as the "Honourable Crafte and Fellasship
of Fraunchised Men of Iromongers", and a charter of incorporation from Edward IV
in 1463, which was reconfirmed in 1558, 1560, 1604 and 1687 by various monarchs.
The Company's arms embody various iron and steel
objects, with two salamanders as a crest, mediaeval salamanders reputedly being
able to survive fire. Salamanders, as supporters, were granted in 1923, although
they had been used before then. The charter granted power to appoint a "Master
and two Keepers or Wardens". A subsequent Act of Parliament required Companies
to prepare ordinances for approval by certain of the King's officers over
matters such as the preservation of trade secrets, the qualifications of
members, the regulation of apprenticeships, domestic matters of the fraternity
and the settlement of internal disputes.
The Company, along with others, suffered extortion
under Henry VIII, Philip and Mary and Charles I, and a similar attempt in 1684
under Charles II, which called into question the validity of the charter of the
City itself and those of the Livery Companies. Although the latter was halted by
James II, the Company was mulcted of a considerable sum by a fine imposed by
Judge Jeffrey in 1668 to redeem their charter. Since Stuart times the Livery
Companies have been left in relative peace, except that they have been involved
in conflict over the continued existence of the Corporation of London in the
context of contemporary local government.
The relationship between the Ironmongers' Company and
the iron industry was greatly affected by the sudden concentration of the
smelting and founding of iron in the Midlands and north of Britain, where there
were abundant supplies of iron ore and coal, so that the activities of the
Company in London were reduced to the administration of charities, participation
in the affairs of the City, and its own domestic affairs. In 1457 the Company
bought buildings in Fenchurch Street and converted them into a Hall, which was
later enlarged. It was rebuilt in 1587 and escaped the Great Fire of 1666. A
third Hall was built in 1745 on the same site. In the First World War, on 7th
July 1917, during a raid by about twenty German aeroplanes, it was damaged by a
bomb. After the war, the site was sold and the building demolished. The land in
Shaftesbury Place, Aldersgate Street, on which the present Hall stands, was
bought in 1922 and the Hall was opened on 17th June 1925.
The Tudor style of the new Hall was decided upon, not
only because it seemed appropriate for the housing of an ancient guild, but also
because it recalled the Golden Age of Craftsmanship. The Hall had a remarkable
escape in December 1940, when a German air raid set fire to all the adjacent
buildings, which were destroyed. The heat melted lead pipes and glass in the
windows. One further threat to the Hall was survived in 1966, when it was nearly
subject to a compulsory purchase order by the City Corporation to make way for
the new Museum of London. Having survived the Great Fire and serious bomb damage
in the two wars, the Company has extensive records of its history. The Court
books and the membership records are unbroken since 1555. Except for the
charters, the Company's records prior to 1900 are on loan to and kept in the
Guildhall Library of the City of London.
The Company is tenth in order of precedence and is,
therefore, one of the
Great Twelve
Livery Companies. It has about two hundred and eighty freemen. One hundred
and thirty of them are liverymen, of whom thirty eight are on the Court, and the
rest are freemen."