The Owl and the Rat
From Standish Wiki
When visiting Standish you cannot help but notice the crest of the Standish family, which was the "The Owl and the Rat" upon a wreath of the colours argent (silver) and sable (black). The owl is seen holding the rat in its claws, and the motto "Je desire" (I desire/wish). The wreath consists of two twisted strips of ribbon and echoes the colours of the arms. In mythology the shield of Minerva bore the owl, which is regarded as a symbol of wisdom.
There are several locations around the township: on the new sculpture on the green opposite the Peace Gate; the front walls of the Boars Head Inn and Lychgate Public Houses; and the Water Tower and Prospect House at the end of Green Lane.
But none more so than the Parish Church of St. Wilfrid. It occurs in several places: the weather vane and the roof beam above the chancel arch are difficult to see, but are in the photograph portfolio at the rear of the church. They also occur on the hatchments on the north wall, on the outside south wall above the doorway to the Standish Chapel itself, above the shield of three standing dishes, within the stained glass window and carved into the pew ends (Ralph Standish circa. 1580).
Closer inspection reveals that there are two forms of the crest. Those of the earlier period show the rat on its feet, whilst later on it is found on its back. It is reasonable to suppose that this change was the result of historical circumstances, and this is in fact borne out by the dates.
In the Jacobite Rebellion of 1688 William Standish was a zealot for the restoration of the Catholic Stuart family, King James II. He plotted an uprising and the murder of King William III at Standish Hall. For his part in this, he had a bounty of £500 on his head. He managed to evade capture and escape to Holland. Later, at his trial, he was released for a lack of evidence. However, papers found much later at the Hall show that he was very much involved.
In the second Jacobite Rebellion, William's son Ralph, once again threw in his lot with the Old Pretender to the throne (now James III of Scotland), and on November 13th 1715 the rebels were defeated, and many of the gentry taken prisoner, including Ralph, Lord of the Manor of Standish. The chief prisoners were kept at Wigan until the 25th, then marched to London. Not until the 2nd June the following year were they put on trial and Ralph Standish pleaded "Not Guilty". The indictment read "...that he, together with other rebels and traitors, was at Preston on 12th November 1715, to depose the King and exalt the person who took upon himself the title James III."
Ralph's wife however, was Lady Philippa Howard, daughter of the Duke of Norfok, then as now the Earl Marshal and premier Duke of England. The Standish family also had long association with the Stanley family, the Earls of (West) Derby. Through the powerful influences of these advocates, he was reprieved and set free. His fellow conspirators were not so fortunate. Following this the Standish Estates were forfeited and sold, but later bought back and returned.
After 1715 the rat on the crest is found on its back, probably as a sign of defeat and displeasure.
From information by Jane Fairhurst, Richard Farrimond and T. C. Porteus
