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The carved and painted Crests of the Knights of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath 

The Order of the Bath consists of the Sovereign (The Queen), the Great Master (The Prince of Wales) and three classes of members. The title of the Order is late medieval in origin and arose from the ritual washing (inspired by the washing of baptism), a symbol of spiritual purification, which formed part of a knight's preparations for the conferment of knighthood.

During the 13th and 14th century Crests were often worn on top of the Knights helm (Battle Helmet) and the Knights Coat of Arms painted upon his shield. During Battle, Pageants or at Tournaments and are used as a form of identification and often during such contests, if a Knight was knocked off his horse his Crest often become dislodged thus rendering the Knight.. Crest fallen….. 

A 20th century Knight of the Bath Crest then placed in position upon his helm in Henry V11’s Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey alongside other totally unique Bath Knights Crests.

Beneath the carved and painted crests, the knight's mantling hangs either side of the helm which is symbolic of the cloth that would have helped protect the knight in his armour from the rain or sun. The knights banner which was often carried in battle bearing his coat of arms, these arms were also often worn as a tabard over his armour. 

Due to the limited number of stalls (seats) available in Henry VII Chapel only the most senior Knights Grand Cross can be installed. 

Shown below are the carved Knights of the Bath Crests that Ian GB created which were then placed in Henry VII Chapel, the Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey since 1989 for the most senior Knights Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. Ian G Brennan was officially appointed the Sculptor to the Most Noble Order of the Garter and the most honourable Order of the Bath in 1989 and since then has been commissioned to carve, paint and gild these Crowns, Coronets and Crests for all the Royal Knights, Extra Knights, Knights and Lady Companions of the Most Noble Order of the Garter along with several Knights swords.

These Knights Crests are between 10 - 24 inches high and are for the most part carved from Lime wood and can take Ian between three and six weeks to carve and paint depending on how complex they are, which are then placed in position above the Knights helm Henry V11 Chapel in Westminster Abbey. 

 please click to enlarge

Crests were originally worn on top of the Knights helm (helmet) during pageants and tournaments in the thirteen and fourteenth century and are used as a form of identification.  

Sir John Gibbon	General Sir Patrick Howard-Dobson	Field Marshal Sir Roland Gibbs
Sir David Williams	Lord Beetham	General Sir Harry Tuzo
Sir Horace Law (Admiral)	General Sir Cecil Blacker	Lord Charteris of Armisfield
Sir Charles Cunningham G.C.B.	Lord Croham	Air Chief Marshal Sir Neil Wheeler
Sir Frank Cooper	Admiral Sir Anthony Griffin	Air Chief Marshal Sir Denis Spotswood
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Ashmore	General Sir Richard Worsley	Sir Henry Leach, Admiral-of-the Fleet
General Sir Peter Whiteley	Sir Douglass Wass	Sir David Fraser
Sir Douglas Lowe	Lord Armstrong of Ilminster	The Rt Hon Sir Patrick Nairne GCB MC
Sir Robert Ford	Sir Brian Cubbon	Sir William Kerr Fraser
Sir David Evans	Sir James Eberle	Lord Craig of Radley
Sir Roland Guy	Sir George Cooper	Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Kennedy
General Sir Michael Gow	Admiral Sir Desmond Cassidi	Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Terry
Sir John Stanier	Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Peter Harding	Sir Nicholas Hunt
Field Marshal Sir John Chapple	Lord Moore of Wolvercote	Sir Brian Kenny
Sir Peter Middleton	Sir David Parry-Evans	Sir Patrick Hine
Sir Benjamin Bathurst	Sir Kenneth Stowe	Sir Julian Oswald

Sir John Wilsey	Field Marshal Lord Inge	Admiral Sir Jock Slater
Lord Ramsbotham	Lord Butler	Sir John Waters
Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank	Sir Michael Graydon	Sir Michael Alcock
Sir Roger Wheeler	Sir Dereck Oulton	Sir Anthony Battishill
Lord Burns	Sir Richard Johns	Admiral Lord Boyce
Sir Jeremy Mackenzie	Lord Walker	Sir Nigel Wicks
Sir Ian Dinton	Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire	Lord West of Spithead
Lord Stirrup	Sir Haden Phillips	Admiral Sir Nigel Richard Essenhigh
General Lord Dannatt	Air Chief Marshal Sir Glen Torpy	Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope	Sir David Omand	General Sir Michael David Jackson
Lord Richards of Herstmonceux	Lord Hougton of Richmond	Sir Nick Carter
Sir Peter Wall	Sir Andrew Pulford

Although each Knight of the Bath and Knight of the Garter Crest when displayed in Henry V11 Chapel in Westminster Abbey and St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle are only viewed from the front and sides therefore over the centuries Ian like his predecessors were not required to carve the back of the Crests, as shown below on this centuries old carved Royal Crest. 

However, for the past thirty plus years Ian has carved, painted and gilded the Crests from all sides as can be seen from the most recent example the ‘sea horses’ Crest below.

Often when Ian is working into the night to complete a particular commission in his studio built alongside woodlands. The local wildlife, including Deer,foxes and badgers and would wander in and around his studio whilst he is working On this occasion when working late a pair of badgers wandered ihis studio, whilst he was working on the 'pair of seahorses ' crestn with a pair of Badgers as company.

Often several different Garter and Bath Crests are being created in three dimensions at the same time.

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