The Broad Arrow (sample forum topic)
| I am trying to ascertain the earliest use of 'Broad Arrow' to denote government ownership of stores in secondary literature and archival sources. The earliest reference I have is in 1687 (OED), with several documentary sources in the 1690s. R. G. Albion, Tim Bean (Ed.) Forests and Seapower (Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 2000), 111, suggests the 1620s. Can anyone substantiate a reference earlier than this? A.C. 3/12/2007 | ||
| I had always understood that the broad arrow was first used to mark trees in the New Forest to be felled for ship-building on the order of the monarch of the day. This is believed to have begun earlier than the 17th C but I cannot find any documentary evidence to date.
P.A. 14/12/2007 | ||
| There was much discussion of the Broad Arrow in the first three or four volumes of The Mariner's Mirror. I would be happy to provide volume and page details. This subject is not my part of ship but there is variously mention of the use of this mark by the Newcastle collector of customs in 1598 and of the charter granted in 1687 by James II to the Tower of London 'upon all which Boundary Houses his Majesty's mark, the Broad Arrow'. L.P. 19/12/2007 | ||
| Thank you everyone. I should be grateful for your references. A.C. 4/01/2008 | ||
| My references go back to the reign of Edward III who ruled 1327-1377. His reign was dominated by the ongoing 100 Years War with France.
In 1330 the King's pincerna, or cup bearer, purchased wine on behalf of the Crown. He is said to have sealed the receipt documents using the impression of an arrow head belonging to His Majesty. This became the symbol identifying government property over the centuries even up until today. Refs:- 'Nelson's Favourite-HMS Agamemnon' A. Deane, 1996 'Britannia Rules' Northcote Parkinson, 1997 M.L. 12/01/2008 | ||
| There are entries on the origins of the Broad Arrow in The Mariner's Mirror:
- Vol 1: pp 49, 139, 183, 217, 282 - Vol 2: pp 57, 88, 123 - Vol 5: pp 24, 59 - Vol 6: pp 220, 251 - Vol 7: p 188 Marryat refers to the Broad Arrow in Ch 3 of The King's Own - "The broad-headed arrow was a mark assumed at the time of the Edwards as distinguishing the property of the King .... Every article supplied to his Majesty's service is thickly studded with this mark, and to be found in possession of any property so marked is a capital offence".There is a mention in Holland's Discourses of the Navy (Navy Records Society) p.238. L.P. 16/01/2008 | ||
| The book 'A Guide to Seals in the Public Records Office' published by HMSO, Second Edition 1968, page 49, makes reference to: "Another interesting Household seal is that of the King's Butlery with the device of a broad-arrow and the legend 'S.Officii Pincernarie R' on a document dated 1330". The PRO reference at the time was E.43/745. J.M.B. 13/11/2008 | ||