Ruby queried the difference between the terms 'Crest' and 'Coat of Arms'. Well, I'm no expert, but I think I know the difference. The crest is the bit right at the top of the Coat of Arms, on top of the helmet. Originally, the 'Arms' were a design put on a shield so that armoured knights could recognise each other in battle. Then they were woven into a surcoat which was worn over the armour, hence the term 'Coat of Arms'. But also for identification purposes, they wore something on top of the helmet, a specially designed 'Crest'. A Coat of Arms usually comprises: the shield, with a helmet over it, sometimes with a wreath around it; the mantling, which is a stylised form of ribbons falling from the back of the helmet and around the shield; and above all this, the Crest. There is also, sometimes, a motto on a scroll underneath. The Whalley Coat of Arms is, I believe, officially documented in 'Burke's General Armory'. The blazon (description) of the arms (shield) is: 'Argent Three Whale Heads Erased Sable'. 'Argent' means silver, (or white in practice), 'Sable' means black, and 'Erased' means that the heads look as though they had been forcibly torn off. The Crest is described as a black whale's head, erased. This is, more or less, how the Whalley Coat of Arms is shown in Rev. Sam's book, though for some reason, the helmet is not shown, even though the crest is. In Whitaker's 'An History of the Original Parish of Whalley' is a plate showing the window in Whalley Church on which are painted the Arms of local families. Only the shields are shown. For Whalley de Clerkhill, the design on the shield is three whale heads, facing left, two on top, one below. The whales are spouting, though to me they look more like parrots than whales. I have a scan, in JPG format of a pretty good representation of the Whalley coat of arms, in gold and silver and black. The size of the file is 49kb. If anyone would like a copy, let me know and I will send it to you as an attachment. Frank Whalley Cardiff, Wales, UK