Nothing odd there, as Sir Thomas piad for and endowed the site for the poor of the town in 1678.
What is odd is that when the caretaker kindly showed it to me, I recognised the design straightaway - as being the same on the shield that surmounts the gates into the famous Guy's Hospital in London.
(Who could forget these crowned leopards with their very very handsome sets of whiskers?!!)
I don't know why, but I hadn't made the connection before. That is: the Sir Thomas Guy who is such a big name in the history of Tamworth is the same Guy who founded one of London's old hospitals.
Ah.
Link: Guy's coat of arms at Guy's Hospital
I know this crest very well having worked at Guy's hospital in my dim and distant past.
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ReplyDeleteInteresting connection. I have not been to Guy's in many years, but I well remember visiting the medical museum there.
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