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![[Flag of Axminster, Devon]](../images/g/gb-e-axm.gif)
image by Ivan Sache, 23 August 2016
The town of Axminster (5,761 inhabitants in 2011), self-styled the "Gateway to
the Jurassic Coast", is located in East Devon, 50 km from Exeter.
With
its origins dating back to Celtic times of 300 BC, Axminster lies on two major
Roman roads: the Fosse Way from Lincoln to Seaton, and the Dorchester to Exeter
road but the Saxons settled here in the 7th century and great examples of
ancient architecture are dotted in around the town. Axminster was recorded in
the late 9th century as "Ascanmynster" and then in the Domesday Book of 1086 as
"Aixeministra": The name means "monastery, or large church by the River Axe" and
is a mixture of languages; the river name Axe has Celtic origins, and mynster is
an Old English word. There has been a church on the site since the 8th century
and in 786 the body of Cynhard the Atheling was brought here for burial, and a
tradition survives that King Athelstan founded a college of priests and endowed
the church in 937. Of Saxon remains, however, there are no clear traces. The
present church dates from 13th century.
Whilst famously lending its name
to a particular weave of carpet, the history of the town is very much linked to
the carpet industry. Started by Thomas Whitty, at Court House near the church in
1755, the completion of the early hand tufted carpets was marked by a peal of
bells from the parish church as it took a great amount of time and
labour to
complete them. Axminster Carpets are still the town's most famous export in
modern times. King George III visited Axminster in 1789 after hearing about the
carpets. In 1826 the building burnt down and was rebuilt as we see it today. The
factory went bankrupt shortly after, becoming a Court Room and then the Towns
Hospital. Axminster did not start making carpets again until 1937 on its present
site at the bottom of Woodmead Road.
The Old Brush Works was built in the
18th century to take advantage of the River Axe. The building was used for wool
storage, a flax workshop and a rope factory before the building was sold to Mr
Coates as a brush factory. It is currently a feather factory and has prepared
feathers for the Queen Mother as well as military apparel: Jaffe et fils makers
of military plumes.
Quotes from the website of the Axminster Chamber of
Commerce and Industry:
http://www.axminster.org/
The flag of Axminster is celestial blue
with the town crest in the center. The motto "Steadfast and Faithful" was
omitted from the scroll placed beneath the shield because it would be an
unreadable mirror image on one side.
Three copies of the flag were offered by
local resident Andrew Wragg, to be flown outside The Guildhall, home of the Town
Council since 1964. The flag was unfurled for the first time on 18 August 2016.
http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/now_axminster_can_fly_the_flag_1_4662328
- Midweek Herald, 19 August 2016
The arms, officially granted on 10
November 1945, are described as follows:
Arms: Per saltire Gules and
Azure an Orb between in fesse two Battle Axes erect the blades inwards and in
base a Shuttle all Or.
Crest: On a Wreath of the Colours upon a Mount Vert a
Minster proper.
Motto: STEADFAST AND FAITHFUL'
The field and orb are
from the arms attributed to King Athelstan, and the battle-axes refer to the
Battle of Brunanburgh in 938, after which Athelstan endowed the Church at
Axminster with lands so that prayers might be offered up for the souls of his
earls who had been slain. The axes are also a play on the name. The shuttle
refers to the carpets which take their name from the town where they have been
made since 1755. The crest symbolises the ancient minster round which the town
grew up.
Quotes from G. Briggs, Civic and corporate heraldry (1971)
http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Axminster - Heraldry of the
world website
Ivan Sache, 23 August 2016
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