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The civic regalia

 

Warrington possesses many fine pieces of civic regalia given over the years by its citizens and leaders of industry. In chronological order of donation they are as follows:

MayorMayor's chain

The chain and badge of office of the mayor was presented to the town by Lady Greenall on 5 September 1876, the year that Sir Gilbert Greenall was created Baronet, and during the mayoralty of S M Webster, Esq. The chain is of gold and consists of sixteen shields connected by double gold links.

Alternate shields bear the Royal Arms, and those of Lancashire and Cheshire. The central badge on this chain bears the shield of the Right Hon. Gilbert Greenall, Baron Daresbury of Walton, and suspended from it is a large golden shield or badge bearing the arms of the borough in enamel. These arms were executed in 1976 following local government reorganisation, and replaced the arms of Paganus de Vilars (first Lord of Warrington) which had been on this badge since its donation.

 

 

 

 

Sword & MaceThe borough mace and sword 

The mace and sword, along with a pair of rests, were presented to the town on 19 June 1897 by Mr Henry Thornton to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria. The mace is of solid silver gilded with 18 carat gold. The crown at the top exemplifies the idea of the authority of the mayor being derived from the Sovereign. On the head of the mace are shields bearing the Royal Arms, the arms of Cheshire, Lancashire and the old county borough of Warrington, as well as an enamelled head of Queen Victoria. The central knob is in the form of a globe having four panels representing Warrington as a town of many industries. Each panel has in bas-relief the figures of two men at work, and the four industries represented are: tanning, soapboiling, iron and wire-making.

MaceThe civic sword has a richly decorated silver gild handle with quillons representing the ions taken from the borough arms. The blade is of steel with elaborate ornamental engraving  which includes emblems representing Lancashire, Cheshire, the Boteler family, the Royal Arms, the crest of the borough, two old arms of the borough, and an inscription recording the name of the donor and the date of presentation. The scabbard which is covered with a rich red velvet is also richly ornamented with royal, county and borough emblems as well as the figures of Justice and the fasces insignia of authority.

 

 

 

 

The mayoress's chain

MayoressThis chain, like that of the mayor, was presented by Lady Greenall (later Lady Daresbury) in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of King George V.  It is a fine gold chain with larger links in a flower design and enamelled letters 'W' set in throughout its length. The badge is of gold filigree tracery, inset with small diamonds and rubies, and bearing an oval shaped coat of arms of the borough in enamel as a centre piece. This shield was changed in 1976 replacing one of the old county borough council.

 

 

Deputy MayorThe deputy mayor's chain

This chain was presented to the town in 1960 by the Co-operative Society Ltd to celebrate the society's centenary. It is of silver gilt and consists of some seventeen links and a rose-shaped centre piece joined by double chains to a heart-shaped medallion bearing the borough arms in enamel. 
 

 

Deputy Mayoress ChainThe deputy mayoress's chain

This is the latest piece presented to the town and was given in 1968 by Messrs Tetley Walker Limited to mark the completion and opening of their new Warrington brewery. It is a fine gold chain consisting of twenty four pierced ovoid links joined by double fine links. The ovoid badge of fine gold bears the borough arms in enamel.