Armorial Achievement of
Mark John Harden
Baron of Cowdenknowes
(Painted by Natalie Yegorova
Principal Heraldic Artist to the Russian College of Heraldry)

Personal Banner of Mark John Harden
The Personal Banner represents the physical presence of the Armiger and is flown only in his presence.

Right is the Badge granted to the present Baron's father, this is worn, historically, by all members of the Baronial and Family Staff and employees. The Badge can also be used by all members of the Baron's following.

The Crest Badge (left) of the Baron, this is in a circlet because it is his own personal Crest, all other members of the family and all followers will wear this Crest Badge, without Feathers and Chapeau and within a Belt & Buckle (shown bottom left). There is only one exception to this rule, the Heir apparent, who has a right to the arms as heir and allows him to also wear the Crest Badge within a circlet and not the belt & Buckle as all others do.

The Crest Badge (right) is of the Baron-Baillie of Cowdenknowes. The belt & Buckle is adorned with the Baillie's "Cap of Justice" in recognition of his office.

*Whilst the present heir is still a minor, Ronald A. Wright, of Walhalla, SC, has been Commissioned as Baron-Baillie until such times as the heir reaches maturity*

Left is the Medallion of Office, worn by the Baron-Baillie whilst performing his duties or representing the Baron. This is worn around the neck on a Chain.

*The current Baillie will also wear the Cap Badge in a belt and buckle as described below*

Left is the regular 'Harden' Crest Badge, this is the badge worn by all others including members of the direct family. The Belt & Buckle denotes that the Crest does not 'belong' to the person wearing it but that they are part of the 'Family' or 'Following' or some other connection to the Family.

Arms of
Barry George Harden

Arms of
Mark John Harden
Baron of Cowdenknowes

Courtesy Arms of
Elizabeth Karen Harden
Lady Cowdenknowes

Letters Patent

The Lord Lyon, King of Arms, In recognition of Barry George Harden, then Baron of Cowdenknowes, has by Letters Patent, Granted the following Armorial bearings, Standard, Badge and Crest to the former Baron and his descendants.

Arms: Azure, on a fess embattled, counter-embattled Gules fimbriated Or between in chief three flowers of Cytisus Proper and in base a horse salient, a cross crosslet Argent. Above the shield, behind which is draped his feudo-baronial mantle doubled of silk Argent, fur-edged of miniver and collar Ermine and fastened on the right shoulder by five spherical buttons Or, is placed a chapeau Gules furred Ermine, thereon an Helm befitting his degree with a Mantling Azure doubled Argent.

Crest: On a Wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest a Demi-horse Argent.

Motto: SAPIENTIA CURSUS VIRES

Badge: A cross crosslet Argent within a circlet of Cytisus Proper

Standard: Said Badge is depicted in the first and third compartments and the said Crest in the centre compartment upon a Standard three and a half metres in length of four tracts Azure and Argent, split at the end, having said Arms in the hoist, with the motto "Sapientia cursus vires" in letters Or upon two traverse bands Gules.

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(Text of Letters Patent)

LETTERS PATENT

To All and Sundry whom These Presents Do or May Concern, WE, Robin Orr Blair, Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order, Writer to Her Majesty's Signet, Lord Lyon King of Arms, send Greeting: Whereas, BARRY GEORGE HARDEN, Baron of Cowdenknowes residing at XXXXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX, XXXXXX in the County of XXXXXXXX, having by Petition unto Us of date 15 March 2004 Shewn; THAT he, the Petitioner, born Rabat, Malta 4 July 1945 (who married Chatham in the County of Kent 21 July 1966 Joan, daughter of James William Bidwell and has issue by her an elder son and heir apparent Mark John Harden, Baron Ballie of the Barony of cowdenknowes, born Kenton in the County of Middlesex 9 March 1967, and a younger son Darren Barry Harden, born Bedford in the County of Bedford 7 October 1973) is the youngest but second surviving son of Colour Sergeant William John Harden, Royal West Kent Regiment, and his wife Ethel Alice Kate, daughter of Regimental Sergeant Major George Cross, Scots Guards; THAT by disposition of date 15 November 2003 recorded in the General Register of Sasines for the Counties of Roxburgh of date 2 December 2003 and of Berwick of date 6 February 2004, the Petitioner is infeft in All and Whole the Lands and Barony of Cowdenknowes in the Counties of Berwick and Roxburgh; AND the Petitioner having prayed that there might be granted unto him such Ensigns Armorial as might be found suitable and according to the Laws of Arms Know ye therefore that We have Devised, and Do by These Presents Assign, Ratify and Confirm unto the Petitioner and his descendants with such due and congruent differences as may hereafter be severally matriculated for them the following Ensigns Armorial, as depicted upon the margin hereof, and matriculated of even date with These Presents upon the 22nd page of the 86th Volume of Our Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, videlicet:- Azure, on a fess embattled, counter-embattled Gules fimbriated Or between in chief three flowers of Cytisus Proper and in base a horse salient, a cross crosslet Argent. Above the Shield, behind which is draped his feudo-baronial mantle Gules doubled of silk Argent, fur edged of miniver and collar Ermine and fastened on the right shoulder by five spherical buttons Or, is placed a chapeau Gules furred Ermine (in respect of his feudal Barony of Cowdenknowes), thereon an Helm befitting his degree with a Mantling Azure doubled Argent, and on a Wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest a demi-horse Argent, and in an Escrol over the same this Motto �SAPIENTIA CURSUS VIRES�; and for his Badge (as feudal Baron of Cowdenknowes) a cross crosslet Argent within a circlet of Cytisus Proper, which Badge is depicted in the first and third compartments and the said Crest in the centre compartment upon a Standard three and a half metres in length of four tracts Azure and Argent, split at the end, having his said Arms in the hoist, with the Motto �SAPIENTIA CURSUS VIRES� in letters Or upon two transverse bands Gules; which chapeau, mantle, Badge and Standard are destined to the Petitioner and his heirs in the said Barony of Cowdenknowes; by demonstration of which Ensigns Armorial he and his successors in the same are, amongst all Nobles and in all Places of Honour, to be taken, numbered, accounted and received as Nobles in the Noblesse of Scotland: In Testimony Whereof We have Subscribed These Presents and the Seal of Our Office is affixed hereto at Edinburgh, this 28th day of May in the 53rd Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of Her Other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, and in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and five.

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For those of the name "Harden", There is now a Harden Tartan registered with the Scottish Tartans Authority, ITI No: 6274 (Click on the ITI No: or you can View here). This Tartan is over 185 years old and was one of the Wilson's of Bannockburn designs/Samples that was never used or named. It was decided by the Family, after advice from the Scottish Tartan Museum, Franklin, NC, USA, to officially adopt, name and register this old and historic Tartan rather than create a new one. This is more in line with the Family's view of preserving Scottish history and heritage. This Tartan can be worn by anyone of the name Harden.