Kirkcudbright Coat of Arms

Today's the day …………………….. for more local history

Following on from yesterday - a bit more about Kirkcudbright - and how it comes to have the above as its Coat of Arms.  Kirkcudbright was probably a Royal Burgh by 1330 and the arms are based on the oldest- known seal of the Burgh which dates from the 15th century. 

Using the blue and silver colours of Galloway, they show St. Cuthbert, patron saint of the town and from whom it takes its name, seated in the stern of a ship, holding the head of the martyred King Oswald of Northumbria.

Oswald, a champion of Christianity, was slain in battle in 642 by Penda, King of Mercia, who fixed his head to a stake. The head of King Oswald was later sent to Lindisfarne, where it was ultimately buried with St. Cuthbert's body.  Legend has it that these holy relics were brought by the monks of Lindisfarne and kept at Kirkcudbright to save them from Viking raiders.

They were eventually transferred to the Saint's final resting-place in Durham Cathedral...………………..