Insignia

The Mayor's Chain was presented to the Taunton Borough Council in 1884 by Alderman Thomas Penny. The 68 shields with each Mayor's name were added year by year, until 1973/74. The Chain is 18ct gold and the medallion is silver-gilt with 14ct gold. The combined weight is 750 grammes.

The arms on the original medallion were the same as those on the Mace (shown in the window of the main staircase in the Old Municipal Buildings) and were then changed to the present style but showing a royal (King Edward's) crown. This, in turn, was changed to a Saxon crown circa 1938 after the Armorial Bearings were assigned to the Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Taunton by Garter principal King of Arms, Clarenceau King of Arms and Norroy King of Arms (the College of Heralds) on 23 October 1934.

Pictured left: Alderman Thomas Penny, Mayor between 1883 - 1886 wearing the Mayor's robes and the Chain and badge of office which he presented to the Borough.

The Mayoress' Chain was presented by Mr TS Penny in 1928 and is in 14ct gold. The medallion shows the Royal crown in diamonds but this has never been changed. The Chain carries 37 small shields, each bearing the name of a previous Mayoress. The combined weight is 190 grammes.

Pictured right: The Mayoress' badge showing two of the shields attached to the chain.

Pictured above: The ornate top of the Mace.

The Mace is the traditional symbol of authority and nothing must come between the Mace and Mayor when being used on Civic occasions. In the presence of the Sovereign it is reserved, as in theory, it becomes redundant.

At times of National mourning such as a Civic memorial service, when robes are worn, the head of the Mace is draped in black and the red ribbons on the shoulders of the Mayor's robe are changed for black.

The Mace was originally a weapon of war, and in the olden days was used to protect the Mayor. Over a period of time, various embellishments like initials and coats of arms were added to the lower end in order to identify the owner. Gradually the lower end became so ornate that it became the top. This means that now it is carried upside down!

The current Mace was presented in 1877 by two members of Parliament - Sir Henry James, QC and Mr A C Barclay, and is in silver. It weighs 2.7kg. The previous Maces authorised by the Charters of 1627 and 1677 disappeared around 1820 and have not been seen since.

In 1939 a facsimile of the present Mace was presented to the City of Taunton, Massachusetts by the Mayor of Taunton (Councillor CH Goodland) when he attended its tercentenary founding celebrations.

There have been five Mayoral robes; the first purchased in 1877, now in the museum, the second about 1920. These two have sable fur. The third, fourth and fifth were purchased in 1959, 1980 and 1984 respectively and all have Musquash fur. Artificial fur is now available as a result of public concern over animal rights.

Pictured right: David S. Applegate, Mayor between 1994 and 1995 in full dress.