Stewarton Coat of Arms
On Monday 4th of August 2008, Stewarton and District Community Council gave their permission for the Stewarton Coat of Arms to appear on Stewarton.com the official community web site for the Bonnet Toun, Stewarton.
The Stewarton Coat of Arms is described in the public Register of all Arms and Bearing in Scotland as follows:
Per pale Or and Azure: a fess chequy per pale, dexter of the Scotland and Argent sinister of the Third and Gules, surmounted of a shakefork, Sable overall, all between a bonnet of
the second, with a round tassel of the Fourth, and an annulet of the First, stoned of the Fourth,in chief, and another similar bonnet and a mullet of the Third in base.
Above the Shield is placed a coronet a circlet richly chased from which are issuant four thistle leaves(one and two halves visible) and four pine cones(two visible) or, and in an
Escrol below the same this Motto "Knit Weel."
By demonstration of which Ensigns Armorial the Stewarton and District Community is, amongst all Nobles and in all Places of Honour, to be taken, numbered, accounted and received
as an Incorporation Noble in the Noblesse of Scotland.
Origin of the Arms
The roots of Stewarton go back, to the year 1283 when the lands of Stewarton were put into separate Lordship and became the inheritance of James, High Stewart of Scotland. When the House of Stewart came to the throne of Scotland, Stewarton became property of the Crown.
The Makeup of the Arms has a long history, part of which is reputed to be due to an act which saved the life of Malcolm Canmore who became "King Malcolm 111 in 1058. It is alleged that, while on the run from MacBeth's men he was saved by a Stewarton farmer, named Cunninghame, who hid him under forked hay. Upon becoming King, it is said, he gifted the farmer the Corsehill Estate in Stewarton. The Cunninghame Coat of Arms is a shake fork shaped like "Y" and "Over Fork Over" for it's motto.
Over the following Centuries "The Lands" or "Lordship" of Stewarton were to change hands many times, depending on which family found favour with the current King. Feudal Strife
between the several families presiding over the local estates was common, as were the murders of both innocent workers and the noblemen alike.
The town of Stewarton resulted from the buildings of a church, springing up in its vicinity in the same way as other towns, villages and hamlets sprang up over the centuries round
churches, abbeys and castles.
After the Reformation the land belonging to the church passed into " Lay hands", and Stewarton was administered by commissioners and magistrates which offices were not filled by
free election, and their tenure has no fixed date.
The Act of 1868 ended this autocratic rule and laid the foundations of democratic government. The town became a Police Burgh in 1868 and, like many other Scottish towns, had it Coat of Arms - a Stewarton Bonnet over a Shake Fork and inscribed motto ""Over Fork Over"
However this coat of arms was not official or registered and it was not until 1955 that the Burgh obtained one.
The legend of Malcolm Canmore and the Stewarton farmer was not listened to by Sir Thomas Innes of Learney. Lord Lyon King of Arms, insisted all coats of arms should be registered and since he had the power of execution the Towns Council had to accept his designs in 1955.
The Motto on the Coat of Arms was changed to "Knit Weel" a compliment to the towns ancient industry. The design includes part of the baronial arms of the Earls of
Douglas, Earls of Arran, the Cunninghames of Corsehill, and the Montgomeries of Lainshaw. These prominent families had early association with the Burgh, so their arm share a place
with the bonnets which represent the Town and Trade.
From 1955 to 1975 the people of Stewarton were familiar with the towns Coat of Arms. Local Government reorganisation in 1975 meant the existing Burghs and their Councils were abolished and the rights to use the Coat of Arms was lost.
Stewarton and District Community Council have Petitioned the Lord Lyon for the return of the Stewarton Coat of Arms. The re-granting of the Arms Ceremony by the Lord Lyon King of
Arms representative to the Community Council took place prior to the Bonnet Guild's Crowning Ceremony for the Corsehill Queen on Saturday 15th June 2002.
Stewarton and District Community Council will be custodian of the Arms which, once again will be a symbol of the towns historical past and help to reinforce the identity of Stewarton
as a Community in it's own right.
If we wi' time and wealth were blessed
Tae gang upon the kittle quest,
To choose the town we lo'ed the best
The world aroon',
I'm sure we'd tak' abune the rest
Our
"Bonnet Toun"
