The peak time for production of Royal Arms (ND November 2016) would seem to be the late 17th and 18th centuries. Many Stuart arms must have been erected after the Restoration. A fine example of the arms of the Merry Monarch is found at Ludlow (Salop), inscribed CIIR and 1674.
Another fine set of arms, from the Reign of George III is at Repton (Derbys), dating from 1772.
More unusual is the set at Corby (Lincs), from the reign of King George I, which bears the date 1726 and forms a lozenge-shaped display, after the fashion more normally associated with hatchments.
At Bircham Newton (Norfolk) the arms hang above the chancel arch – which would have been the position of many arms two or three centuries ago. They bear the inscription: ‘Painted by J Bloss Groom at Hunstanton-Hall Aug 7 1788’.
The church at Burnham Norton (Norfolk) has two sets of arms. For many years the George IV arms on canvas, of 1826, covered up the earlier arms, painted on board. These have the initials of William III and are dated 1697, but the shield bears the simple Stuart arms, without the Nassau shield for William, so are probably Caroline arms given new initials (and date) – churchwardens liked to save money! The George IV arms again bear the ‘signature’ of the painter: ‘Zech. Fenn 1826 Painter Walsingham’.