Castle Cat Bear & Ragged Staff Fridge Magnet

Designed by Emma Rawlinson exclusively for our Visit Warwick shop. The Bear and Ragged Staff is a heraldic emblem or badge associated with the Earldom of Warwick. The ragged staff  is believed to refer to Morvidus, an early legendary Earl of Warwick who is said to have slain a giant with a young ash tree torn up by the roots. The emblem of a bear (Latin ursus) is believed to refer to Urse d'Abetot (c.1040-1108), 1st feudal baron of Salwarpe in Worcestershire, a Norman who followed King William the Conqueror to England, and served as Sheriff of Worcestershire. His heir was his son-in-law Walter de Beauchamp (died 1130/3), whose descendant was William de Beauchamp, 9th Earl of Warwick (c.1238-1298), the eldest son of William de Beauchamp of Elmley by his wife Isabel de Mauduit, sister and heiress of William Mauduit, 8th Earl of Warwick. This vibrant fridge magnet celebrates the tradition and the history of the town of Warwick.