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by Hugh Pihlens

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The "Crescent and Star" device commonly used around Hungerford as the official badge appears to have been used for many centuries, but the origins are unclear. The device appears on the "John of Gaunt" horn, thought locally to date from the 14th century (although an expert from the British Museum in 2000 was of the opinion that it dated from the 15th century). Despite much debate locally, no absolutely firm and authoritative opinion has yet been made.

The design is indeed similar to the Coat of Arms of Portsmouth, Hampshire. The Portsmouth device appears to have eight points, whereas that in Hungerford is more usually six-pointed. Indeed, in earlier times it is also seen with only five-points – a "mullet". The following is from a website on the topic:

RICHARD THE LIONHEART: In 1192 the fiancée and the sister of the English King Richard I Lionheart were shipwrecked on Cyprus and were taken captive by Isaac. In retaliation Richard conquered the island while on his way to Tyre.
Isaac was taken prisoner near Cape St. Andreas on the Karpass Peninsula, the northernmost tip of the island. According to tradition, Richard had promised Isaac not to put him into irons, so he kept him prisoner in chains of silver. At this time Richard adopted the star and crescent symbol, which Issac Comnenus had been using, as his own.
Isaac was turned over to the Knights of St. John, who kept him imprisoned in Margat near Tripoli until he was released in c. 1194.

PORTSMOUTH COAT OF ARMS: In 1194 it was King Richard I, Richard the Lionheart, who granted the Town of Portsmouth its first charter.
The star and crescent symbol is also present on the seal of William de Longchamp, Bishop of Ely, who as Lord Chancellor, was involved in the in the granting of Portsmouth's charter.
It is believed that the Town of Portsmouth adapted the symbol to use as its coat of arms in tribute to King Richard, for his patronage in granting Town status.
The Star and Crescent symbol is known to have been used by Mayors of Portsmouth from at least the seventeenth century and probably earlier from the middle ages.
The motto 'Heaven's Light Our Guide' was incorporated into the coat of arms in 1929, it is the same motto that was also used by the Order of the Star of India and was used on Indian troopships which regularly travelled between Portsmouth and the East.

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It would appear, therefore that the use of the Crescent and Star in Portsmouth may date from the first town charter given by King Richard I in 1194, and is connected with his travels on crusades.

The question arises as to whether the badge of Hungerford may have a similar connection.

The topic was investigated in 2000 by Carol Cartwright, who was one of the editorial team putting together the local history book "Hungerford – A History". She approached the College of Arms. Timothy Duke, the Chester Herald at the time, searched the registers of the College, and found no evidence that the Hungerford badge were ever registered, or established as a right to Arms. He did volunteer that the device used by Hungerford is recorded as the coat of Arms of the Minshull family, and the Crest of the Bright family. He was of the opinion that if Hungerford were now to apply for formal registration, there might be objections from others using the device.

Timothy Duke advised that the correct modern heraldic description is "A crescent between the horns an estoile". He explained that according to "Heraldic Badges" (by A.C. Fox-Davies, 1907), a similar Badge was attributed to Richard I (see the notes on Portsmouth above), King John and Henry III, but the original sources of these is not known.
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There are two interesting connections between these kings and Hungerford.

It is known that Richard I raised funds for his crusade by granting Charters to towns and it is known that he came through Hungerford with its owner, Earl Robert de Beaumont III. Portsmouth was granted its Charter in 1194 by Richard I and has the Crescent and Star as its seal. Unfortunately for Hungerford there is no surviving Charter or even any evidence that one existed. However, it is thought that if there had been an early charter, it may have been stolen when the town coffer was broken into in 1461.

The period of the reign of Henry III (1216-1272) was key to Hungerford's development. It was probably at this time that the new "model" town (with burgage plots off a planned regular north-south main street) was laid out, and that town became a "borough" – first referred to in 1241. In 1232 Henry III granted letters of protection to the Hospital of St. John the Baptist in Hungerford, and also to the leprous sisters of St. Lawrence. These may have been at the persuasion of his brother-in-law Simon de Montfort, whose Earl of Leicester estates, including Hungerford, had just been restored to him. There is no surviving charter for Hungerford, but much circumstantial evidence points to Henry III being key to the development of the town. The "crescent between the horns an estoile" badge may date from this time, a century before John of Gaunt.

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