Chester Herald

The heraldic badge of Chester Herald of Arms in Ordinary
Heraldic tradition	Gallo-British
Jurisdiction	England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Governing body	College of Arms

Chester Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. The office of Chester Herald dates from the 14th century, and it is reputed that the holder was herald to Edward, Prince of Wales, also known as the Black Prince. In the reign of King Richard II the officer was attached to the Principality of Chester, which was a perquisite of the then Prince of Wales. In the reign of King Henry VIII the title lapsed for a time but, since 1525, the office of Chester has been one of unbroken succession, as a herald in ordinary. The badge of office is taken from the arms of the Earl of Chester and in blazoned as A Garb ensigned of the Royal Crown Or.

The office is currently vacant.

Holders of the office

Arms	Name	Date of appointment	Ref
	John (surname unknown)	(1393)
	William Bruges	1398–1413
	James Billett	(Henry VI)
	William Tyndale or Tendale	1443–1447
	John Tyndale	(1447)
	William Whiting	(Henry VI)
	John Water or Walter	(1455)
	Richard Stanton	(Henry VI/Edward IV)
	Roger Stamford	(Edward IV)
	Roger Bromley, Esq.	(1483)
	Thomas Whiting, Esq.	(1493)
	Randolph Jackson, Esq.	1533–1540
	William Flower, Esq.	1540–1561
	Robert Cooke, Esq.	1562–1566
	John Hart, Esq.	1566–1574
	Edmund Knight, Esq.	1574–1592
	James Thomas, Esq.	1592–1603
	William Penson, Esq.	1603–1617
	Thomas Knight, Esq.	1617–1618
	Henry Chitting, Esq.	1618–1637
	Edward Walker Esq.	1638–1644
	William Dugdale, Esq.	1644–1660
	Thomas Lee, Esq.	1660–1667
	Thomas May Esq.	1677–1689
	Charles Mawson, Esq.	1689–1721
	Edward Stibbs, Esq.	1721–1739
	Francis Hutchenson, Esq.	1739–1752
	John Martin Leake, Esq.	1752–1790	[1]
	George Martin Leake, Esq.	1791–1834	[2]
	Walter Aston Blount, Esq., FSA	1834–1859	[3]
	Edward Stephen Dendy, Esq.	1859–1864	[4]
	Henry Murray Lane, Esq.	1864–1913	[5]
	Thomas Morgan Joseph-Watkin, Esq.	1913–1915	[6]
	Sir Arthur William Stuart Cochrane, KCVO	1915–1926	[7]
	Sir John Dunamace Heaton-Armstrong, MVO	1926–1956	[8]
	James Arnold Frere, Esq., FSA	1956–1960	[9]
	Sir Walter John George Verco, KCVO	1960–1971	[10]
	David Hubert Boothby Chesshyre, Esq., FSA	1978–1995	[11]
	Timothy Hugh Stewart Duke, Esq.	1995–2014	[12]
	The Hon. Christopher John Fletcher-Vane	2017–2023	[13]
	Vacant	2023–present