Dunster School has recently completed a wonderful school heraldry project. We were delighted to hear that the children have been busy designing coats of arms ready for the celebrations. With the Dunster Winter Festival approaching on 6 and 7 December, pupils have been creating hearldic shields with a wide variety of colourful symbols. (You can use our free coat of arms template to design your own!) Their enthusiasm has been inspiring, and their artwork has shown real imagination. A huge well done to the staff and children who have been involved in this fantastic and creative project. We can see that imaginations have been let loose, with lots of symbols being used in the artworks.

Since opening our Dunster shop, we have enjoyed becoming part of the community, and the school is clearly one of the things at its heart. We hope that the children enjoyed exploring heraldry. Their creativity around the topic of coats of arms has reminded us why we enjoy sharing this subject. Under the leadership of Mr Paul James, the school website describes it as “a haven of learning… surrounded by breath-taking landscapes. As a happy, kind, and caring school, we are proud to be at the heart of our supportive community, unwavering in our commitment to place children at the centre of all we do.” Judging on this project, the children have been getting well and truly immersed in their work!

A fun project for schools and families

This school heraldry project is simple for teachers to organise and easy for families to try at home. Our free coat of arms template offers a clear starting point. It allows children to explore colour, symbols and meaning while learning about heraldic traditions. The children at Dunster have created theirs on cardboard shields which they will be able to carry. So you could copy their example and cut out a shape that you like. But equally you could do yours on a piece of A4 paper and cut it out afterwards.

Some children become curious about the earliest historically recorded coat of arms associated with a bearer of their own surname. Families can explore further through our online dictionary of heraldry symbols, which explains the meaning behind many traditional images. This resource helps young learners choose symbols which they feel reflect their character or achievements.

Families can also browse our blog to learn more about surnames, heritage and the stories behind different coats of arms.

Looking ahead to the Dunster Winter Festival

This project forms part of the village’s preparations for the Dunster Winter Festival. The event brings the village together and offers a warm, festive atmosphere for residents and visitors. We are excited to take part for the first time since opening our doors and look forward to celebrating with the community.

Photo above by Nina Dodd Photography

During the festival, we welcome families to visit us on Dunster High Street. Our team will be happy to discuss surnames, heraldry and the history behind the earliest recorded coats of arms linked to different names. Visitors can also explore a wide range of meaningful gifts in store.

Explore our collection of heritage-inspired items:

Prints and scrolls

Crystal and glass gifts

Shields and plaques

Watches and clocks

Homeware

Gifts for her

Gifts for him

You can also explore more surname and heraldry topics on our main blog.

Visit us in Dunster

We look forward to welcoming everyone during the festival and throughout the year. Please visit our Dunster shop to explore heraldry, surnames and unique personalised gifts. Or alternatively you can call us on 01984 632120 or email info@hallofnames.org.uk.

Use our free template you can use to help you create a design for your club or organisation. It’s aimed at kids but can be used by adults too!

We hope you have enjoyed seeing the beautiful work of the Dunster School Children – here are just a few more to be impressed by!

The post Dunster School launches a creative heraldry project appeared first on Hall of Names.

We’re nearly there — and getting excited! Our new Hall of Names shop in Dunster is almost ready to open its doors. We couldn’t be more grateful for the welcome we’ve already received from the local community.

We’ve met fellow shopkeepers and passers-by. And the friendly spirit of Dunster has made these final stages of setting up feel extra special. As a family-run business rooted in West Somerset, it’s great to feel part of this thriving village. We are at the end of High Street on the traffic lights on the corner.

Local Support, Local Craftsmanship

It’s been a real team effort getting the shop ready. Our stock has arrived, the fixtures and fittings are nearly complete. And we’re now putting the finishing touches to the display. One of those is our brand-new counter sign. It reads: “Welcome to the Home of Personalised Gifts.” (View our personalised gift categories)

Our external and internal signage was designed in-house by Jo and created by the brilliant Dan at Somerset Sign and Print Co. — a local business we were proud to support, as we always try to source locally whenever possible.

And speaking of family help, Wendy’s retired dad has been involved too. He’s been building our beautiful new counter top, which is now the heart of the shop.

A Village That Already Feels Like Home

We’re not even open yet, and already Dunster feels like home. We’ve had so many kind conversations with local residents and shop owners as we’ve been moving in — and we’d especially like to thank those who’ve had patience while we’ve unloaded “bits and bobs” into the space! We have had so many materials, supplies and stock to sort out but we are nearly there!

We’re also grateful to the lovely team at the local parish magazine. They have kindly helped us distribute introductory postcards to villagers. This is a small way for us to introduce what Hall of Names is all about and feel connected.

Rooted in Local Life

This will be our first bricks-and-mortar shop in Dunster. But Hall of Names has long been part of the West Somerset community. We’re proud sponsors of the Williton Rockets football team, who proudly wear our name on their shirts. And we’re passionate about celebrating local names, families, and histories. Come and see a few of them displayed in the shop when we finally open!

Once open, we’ll offer everything from:

• Surname history scrolls
• Hand-painted shields
• Crystal and glass giftware
• Bookmarks, keyrings and other small keepsakes

Every item features the earliest historically recorded coat of arms associated with a bearer of the surname. These are based on our exclusive database of over one million names.

A Proud Addition to Dunster’s High Street

We’re thrilled to soon be joining a high street full of independent character and variety. Whether you’re browsing for antiques, local art, handcrafted gifts, or simply treating yourself in one of the tea rooms, Dunster has something for everyone.

You can discover many of these fantastic local businesses on the Dunster shop listings page. It offers a helpful overview of where to go and what to explore during your visit. Plus there are also helpful links.

We’re proud to be adding our own unique touch to this thriving village. We’ll offer surname history gifts that celebrate the past while creating something personal for the present.

See You at the Dunster Winter Festival?

We might not be open just yet — but we’ll certainly be celebrating at the upcoming Dunster Winter Festival! Taking place this December, the festival promises medieval fun, food and festivities. The photograph below was taken by Nina Dodd of our neighbouring shop Dunster Living.

If you spot someone in a full suit of armour, don’t be surprised — it might just be Wendy’s son Toby. We hope he can be persuaded to dress for the occasion! Fancy a selfie with a knight? You’ll know where to find us.

Not Long Now…

We’re on the home straight. And we can’t wait to open our doors and welcome you into our world of coats of arms, surname histories, and meaningful gifts.

Whether you’re local or visiting, we hope you’ll pop in and say hello. We’re excited to help you explore the story behind your name — and to be part of Dunster’s rich and welcoming community. Now wish us luck unpacking some of our stock!

The post Joining the Dunster Community: A Warm Welcome for Hall of Names appeared first on Hall of Names.