Sword & Mace

The Carrickfergus Sword and Mace were presented to the Corporation of Carrickfergus in 1712 by Colonel Robert Gardner, a member of a prosperous merchant family, whose splendid memorial is in the Freeman’s Aisle of St Nicholas’ Parish Church.  They are carried on special ceremonial occasions, such as Mayor’s Sunday and Armistice Day services. They are also on display throughout the Borough Council Meetings.

The Mace is cast in silver gilt and bears the Arms of Queen Ann and the Borough of Carrickfergus. It is widely believed that the Mace of the House of Commons at Westminster is modelled, in enlarged form, on the beautiful Carrickfergus Mace.

The Sword hilt is finely cast in silver gilt, and also bears the Arms of Queen Ann and of the Borough. The sheath is covered in ruby red velvet and silver gilt bands. The Sword itself is made of the very finest and sharpest Sheffield steel.

The sword hilt was made by Thomas Vickerage the foremost hilt maker in London at that time.