INTRODUCTION

Our Club badge was designed by, a player of the club,  Steve Gill sometime in the 1980’s. Many of the elements were drawn from the Calne towns' coat of arms.

The club attempted to contact Mr. Gill early in 2005, so that he could describe his inspirations the imaginary used to create the club badge we all recognize today. The invitation is still open to Mr. Gill, if he would like to take it up. In the meantime, a few old and wise men at the club have put forward their theories for the artwork we see today.

The badge has four main component parts. Working clockwise, and starting in the top left and corner, there is a tower, this is followed by a quill, at the bottom is a horse and these three images are all intersected by three lines that merge in the middle or the badge.

TOWER

Initially, the tower was thought to be a representation of Bowood’s Golden Gate tower in Derry Hill. And it was thought that it represented the close links and history Calne has with Bowood House. This "Golden Gate" is the main entrance to Bowood Golf and Country Club . It was built by Sir Charles Barry, of the houses of parliament fame, sometime around 1820. But this theory was completely ruled out when a tower was noticed on Calne Town’s Coat of Arms.

Further research , whilst identifying the origin of the quill, identified that the tower may even predate the quill, which is dated at the last part of the 1300’s. At this time we are unable to identify the original nature of the tower and why it was used in the towns coat of arms.

THE QUILL

Quills are synonymous with literary brilliance. And one gentleman that springs to mind is Dr. Joseph Priestley. In Calne terms Dr. Priestley is most famous, amongst many other discoveries, for discovering Oxygen in the town in 1774. Joseph Priestley was one of the most influential and colourful scientists of the eighteenth century. He lived and worked, for some time, at Bowood House in Calne, Wiltshire. Where he was the librarian and scientific guru for Lord Shelburne, the Marquis of Lansdowne.

However, the good Dr Priestley must be ruled out, as the source of the inspiration for the Quill. As it was soon discovered that the Quill, which is in fact a silver Ostrich feather, also features on the town’s coat of arms, which is recognised as being created in the late 1300’s. The Quill in question has been linked to the Black Prince by local historians, but it remains unclear what, if any, direct links the Prince had with our town.

In the whole range of English history there is no name so completely wrapped up in the idea of English chivalry as that of Edward the Black Prince. Born on the 15th of June 1330, the son of Edward III and Philippa of Hainault, he was only in his sixteenth year when he accompanied his father in the expedition into France which was crowned by the battle of Crecy.

THE HORSE

The horse is by far the most easily identifiable image of the our club’s badge for locals. The Cherhill white horse is the second oldest of the Wiltshire horses. It is situated on the edge of Cherhill Down, off the A4, Calne to Marlborough road, just east of the village of Cherhill, and is just below the earthwork known as Oldbury Castle. Nearby is the obelisk known as the Lansdowne Monument.The carving may well have been inspired by the Westbury horse, as it was cut in 1780, just two years after that first Wiltshire horse was recut to a new design. The Cherhill white horse is the work of a Dr Christopher Alsop of Calne, sometimes referred to as "the mad doctor". He is said to have directed the marking out of the horse from a distance, calling instructions through a megaphone. Dr Alsop's design for the horse may have been influenced by the work of his artist friend George Stubbs, famous for his paintings of horses and other animals.

THE INTERSECTING LINES

The name Calne is said to be of Celtic origin – “Col-aun” meaning a meeting of waters. This we believe is represented by the three lines, which denote the different sectors, of our badge. These are thought to represent the three waterways in Calne. The River Marden, Aberd Brook and the Wilts and Berks Canal.

The River Marden and Abberd Brook meet in the centre of the town, whilst the later manmade addition of the Canal skirts with in a few meters of the Marden, at the Castlefields site.

Nothing appears to be known of any Celtic settlement on the site. However, the historical significance of the town is confirmed in early records of a meeting of the 'Witan', the chiefs of the nation, in 978, which is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The Domesday Book entry for Calne uses the name 'Cauna' to describe the town. So, although the origins of the name of Calne remain shrouded in mystery, it is verified that Calne is the site of a very old settlement.

CALNE TOWN CREST

The black background, and the silver Ostrich feathers are similar to the Arms of the Black Prince c 1376, with a tower added, and may be older. The arms are recorded by William Harvey Clarenceux King of Arms, in the visitation of Wiltshire in 1565. These Arms belonged to the Guild of Stewards of the Town and Borough of Calne, and Burgesses of the Same, and the Honor of Wallingford, and Ewelme.

A new seal was in use in 1836, with the words “Major and Council of the Borough of Calne Wilts”.

In 1950 the crest was added – the mural crown for the castle, and the mitre and staves for Edmund Rich who was vicar of Calne 1233-4, later Archbishop of Canterbury. The supporters were also added – two red Boars representing the Bacon industry, the garland of Teazles the Woollen industry.

“Faith . Work . Service”

The little known motto of Calne, and very apt in Calne Rugby terms too.Thank you for taking the time to read our website contribution.

Matt Snell, Mark Edwards & John Crozier.