The Arms of Sir Joshua Burton-Chadwick, Bt
Noel Cox
first published (Spring 2003) 88 New Zealand Armorist 5-6
Sir Joshua Kenneth Burton-Chadwick is the third baronet Chadwick of Bidston, county palatine of Chester, in the baronetage of the United Kingdom. He was born in 1954, and succeeded to the title in 1983.
Sir Joshua now lives in the State of Queensland, Australia, though his sister still lives in New Zealand. There is no heir to the baronetcy, which was created in 1935.
The first baronet, Sir Robert Chadwick, was the head of the shipping firm of Chadwick and Askew, of London and Liverpool. He was an honorary Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve, and one of the founders of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, London. He was a also active in politics, as a member of the House of Commons 1918-31. He served as a Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade 1924-28.
Sir Robert Chadwick, Bt added the name Burton to his own by deed poll 30 September 1936. Baronetcies, unlike peerages, may change their title over time, and need not retain the original surname, though additions are more usual than complete abandonment of the original surname under which the title was conferred.
The territorial designation refers to Bidston Hall, near Birkenhead, Cheshire. This is an early seventeenth century house associated with William Stanley, KG, sixth Earl of Derby, who died 1627. It was the seat of the Chadwicks in the 1930s, but is now the home of JV Murphy.
The armorial bearings of the head of the Burton-Chadwick family reflect their origins in shipping. The blazon is Azure, on water barry wavy Argent and Vert in base, a lymphad Or, the sail of the second charged with a martlet of the first, flying at the masthead a pennon Gules, fimbriated also of the second, and at the stern a banner as the sail, in chief a lion passant between two mullets also Argent.
The blue martlet on the white sail (and the banner at the stern) was the symbol of the family shipping line. The martlet is an heraldic swallow, without feet.
The lymphad, or ancient galley, is the commonest of vessels depicted in heraldry. It is usually depicted as half-moon, with castellated poop and stern, with or without mast, and with one or more banks of sweeps, or oars.
The crest also has strong maritime symbolism: a demi-sea horse Proper, gorged with a naval crown and holding between the fins a portcullis chained Or.
The motto is In candore decus.
There are no supporters.