College of Arms opens its doors to show off the High Court of Chivalry

"There is a courthouse in the City of London that hasn't been used for a trial since 1737, but it's still there - just in case. This is the High Court of Chivalry and apart from being a full courthouse, with a judge's chair, legal bar and public galleries, it's also the entrance to an ancient institution - the College of Arms."

"The College of Arms was founded by King Richard III to oversee the awarding of coats of arms in most of the UK, except Scotland, and later in some overseas territories. They are also the heralds who attend Royal events in their grand tabards, and they are also the department that issues rules of flying of flags on government buildings to mark events."

"And although its history is complicated - to put it mildly - it's still around, and since 1555, the College has been in the same location near St Paul's Cathedral. The current building dates back to just after the Great Fire of London and was once larger. However, in the 1860s, it lost its southern half to the busy road that now runs in front of it."

The High Court of Chivalry sits at the College of Arms in the City of London and functions as the formal adjudicator in heraldry disputes. The College of Arms, founded by King Richard III, governs coats of arms across most of the UK and in some overseas territories, except Scotland. Heralds attend royal events in traditional tabards and administer rules for flying flags on government buildings. The College has occupied a site near St Paul's Cathedral since 1555; the present building dates from after the Great Fire of London and lost its southern half in the 1860s to road expansion. The High Court last sat in 1737 and was unexpectedly revived in 1954.

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