====== Shire Past Heraldry ======

Here is a photo of one version of the shire arms that didn't pass:  //Or, on a wreath of laurel proper a heart gules supported by two hares sejant sable// (two black bunnies supporting a red heart on a gold field, with a green laurel wreath).  It was submitted on 2 February 1985. In our shire there was not a lot of collective knowledge about period heraldry at the time!  The black bunnies hearkened back to the arms of our founding seneschal (//vert, on a sun Or a rabbit and a guinea pig combattant sable orbed Or//).  

These arms went with the Val Coeur name that also didn't pass.  The name "Shire of Val Coeur" was submitted on 7 February 1985.  According to the Brigantial Principal Herald in her letter of 9 September 1985, "Laurel ruled that your group's name was in conflict with that of the Shire of Coeur du  Val."  (That's a shire in Oregon, folks.)  There was a felt appliqué (well, glued) banner of these arms many years ago, but I think we destroyed it when the arms didn't pass.

A later version of arms that didn't pass was an attempt at canting arms.  The shire name had been changed back to "Frosted Hills" by then, on the assumption that it would be easier to pass than Valcor or Val Coeur.  (It was.)  Anyway, the charge was three sword hilts erased argent, i.e., "frosted hilts."  Well, we thought it was funny!  (The banner for this version of the arms still exists, somewhere at Dof and Thora's house.  We will try to photograph and post it soon.)

On 2 April 1986, the local group submitted their ancient name "Shire of Frosted Hills," which was accepted in September 1986 by Laurel.