Mayor's office

The Mace

The mace was originally used as a weapon of war and by the eleventh or twelfth century had developed into a formidable metal-bound weapon 2-3 foot long with a bole at the striking end complete with spikes and a knob at the other end to grip the mace.

The mace was originally used as a weapon of war and by the eleventh or twelfth century had developed into a formidable metal-bound weapon 2-3 foot long with a bole at the striking end complete with spikes and a knob at the other end to grip the mace.

This weapon was popular in close quarters and the preferred weapon of churchmen and bodyguards.

As a result of the changing role of the King's sergeant at arms from bodyguard to emissary, the mace became more of an indication of the carrier's royal authority.

Over period of time the mace lost its spikes and the nob became more a more ornate, giving way to the current day ceremonial mace where the nob has developed into the ornate head and the weapon has become the handle. In fact the mace is now carried upside down.

Purpose

The mace is a symbol of the mayor's authority as the first citizen of the borough and is used only on civic occasions such as mayor-making, annual council and civic services. The mace is always carried by the macebearer walking directly in front of the mayor. Once the mayor is seated the mace is placed directly in front of him/her with the head towards his/her right. The mace is always reversed in the presence of royalty.

Description of the London Borough of Ealing mace

An hexagonal shape shaft, three sides are decorated with an oak leaf and acorn design.

The bottom part is also hexagonal in shape and is decorated with fleur de lys on three sides with two orange trees between two rivers on the fourth side, an oak tree surmounted by a bible, three cutlasses with a crown above and a capstan on the fifth side, and an oak tree with three cutlasses and crossed swords above.

The top of the shaft is also hexagonal and is decorated on three sides with a book with quill pen on one, the scales of justice on the second and a beehive with a rope and tassel on the third.

The crown of the mace has six sides with fleur de lys design on four sides, the fifth side has an enamel badge depicting an oak tree with three crowns above and a banner below inscribed 'progress with unity'. The sixth side is inscribed 'London Borough of Ealing Incorporated 10th March 1964'. The top is inscribed 'London Borough of Ealing' and the whole surmounted by four trefoil emblems.