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The College of Arms is the official repository of the coats of arms and pedigrees of English, Welsh, Northern Irish and Commonwealth families and their descendants. Its records also include official copies of the records of Ulster King of Arms the originals of which remain in Dublin. The official records of the College, which include the registers of grants of arms, funeral certificates, the records of the systematic heraldic visitations of the English and Welsh counties undertaken by the heralds roughly every generation between 1530 and 1688, changes of name and arms by Royal Licence, and the pedigree registers, total approximately 750 manuscript volumes. In addition to the official records there are the unofficial collections. These include an extensive library of printed genealogical and heraldic works. The College's unique manuscript collections are just as extensive. These date from the fourteenth century, and contain the working papers and other manuscripts of numerous past heralds.

The officers of the College, known as heralds, specialize in genealogical and heraldic work for their respective clients. Coats of arms have been and still are granted by Letters Patent from the senior heralds, the Kings of Arms. A right to arms can only be established by the registration in the official records of the College of Arms of a pedigree showing direct male line descent from an ancestor already appearing therein as entitled to arms, or by making application through the College of Arms for a grant of arms. Grants are made to corporations as well as to individuals.

In the early mediaeval period the proclamation and organisation of tournaments was the chief function of heralds. They marshalled and introduced the contestants and kept a tally of the score. From this derive both their modern roles of organising ceremonial and of being expert in armory. The knights taking part in tournaments were recognised by the arms they bore on their shields and the crests they wore on their helmets. Heralds soon acquired an expert knowledge of these and became responsible for recording arms, and then later for controlling their use.

As coats of arms were hereditary heralds soon came to add expertise in genealogy to their skills. The use of arms on the jousting field and in battle became steadily less important but at the same time the civilian, social and antiquarian uses of heraldry grew. Although many of the ceremonial duties of heralds have disappeared they still carry out and organize under the Earl Marshal, certain extremely ancient and splendid ceremonies. In June each year at Windsor Castle the procession and service of the Sovereign and Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter is held. The State Opening of Parliament, usually in November, is a more magnificent ceremony. The Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, is one of the two Great Officers of State and the office is hereditary in his family. He has particular powers of supervision over the heralds and the College of Arms.

In mediaeval times, there were heralds in the service both of the monarch and of certain great noblemen. Heralds were part of the royal household in the thirteenth century and perhaps as early as the twelfth century. From 1420 the Royal heralds had a common seal and acted in some ways like a corporation. In 1484 they were granted a charter of incorporation by Richard III, and given a house in Coldharbour in Upper Thames Street, London to keep their records in. When Henry VII defeated Richard and took the crown in 1485 he wrested Coldharbour from the heralds and gave it to his mother. They received the charter under which they now operate from Queen Mary and her husband Philip of Spain in 1555, together with the site of the present College of Arms on which then stood Derby Place. This building was the College of Arms until it burnt down in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The present College building dates from the 1670s.

The College of Arms, although a branch of the Royal household, is self-supporting. It has always been the case (and continues to be so) that the funds needed for the maintenance of the College building, and the preservation of its records are derived from the fees payable upon grants of arms, and not from public funds. Each officer of arms conducts his own practice in heraldry and genealogy, and charges fees to undertake research. The heralds and pursuivants take it in turn, a week at a time, to be the officer on duty who deals with all letters, faxes, Emails, and telephone calls addressed generally to the College. The officer in waiting, as he is termed, also sees those who make enquiries in person.

He advises on whether he would be able to assist in a particular heraldic or genealogical problem, what research he would recommend and what fee would be payable for it. He will also arrange for the examination and recording in the College registers of pedigrees; and for the preparation under his supervision of a range of heraldic artwork. Any person who approaches the officer in waiting and employs him on some task becomes that herald's client. When an officer of arms is the agent for a grant of arms he is remunerated for his work on the case, and related expenses, by a payment out of the fees a petitioner pays to the College. The College is open each weekday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Important. Using the College for Research. If you wish to conduct research with the College of Arms it is extremely important you first read the College of Arms web site through very carefully first. The College of Arms is a most venerable institution and you must have undertaken extensive data and research to present to the College before a Herald will undertake research for you. It is strongly suggested you liase with Ancestor Travel first to have us check your preliminary background research.

Also note that Coats of Arms do not belong to surnames. There is no such thing as a 'coat of arms for a surname'. Many people of the same surname will often be entitled to completely different coats of arms, and many of that surname will be entitled to no coat of arms. Coats of arms belong to individuals. For any person to have a right to a coat of arms they must either have had it granted to them or be descended in the legitimate male line from a person to whom arms were granted or confirmed in the past. It is also a popular misconception that the word 'crest' (As in a "Family Crest") describes a whole coat of arms or any heraldic device. However, it does not. A crest is a specific part of a full achievement of arms: the three-dimensional object placed on top of the helm.

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