On 11th September 2022 King Charles III wore his royal cypher for the first time when he was proclaimed King at several state ceremonies. His cypher was the entwined CR and from now onwards it will gradually take over Queen Elizabeth II’s cypher.
A royal cypher is a monogram used by the reigning sovereign and usually consists of their initials and title surmounted by a crown so CR stands for Charles Rex, rex being Latin for King. The use of royal initials dates from the early Tudor period and the addition of R for Regina or Rex (Queen or King) was added after Henry VIII’s reign.
The royal cypher of Queen Elizabeth II was surmounted by St. Edward’s Crown and often abbreviated to E II R as can be seen at the back of Benhall’s Bus Shelter opposite Benhall House.
Image from 1953 newspaper article
Image dated 2022
From newspaper article dated 1953
Benhall now possesses a bus shelter which cost under £20 to build – £16 being the remainder of the local Coronation Fund. The villagers set to work to build it for themselves after a Parish Meeting in September 1953 decided how to spend what remained of the fund.
The site was given by Mrs. D.E.M. Heycock-Holland, plans were drawn up by Mr. L. Spore and the costing was done by Mr. E.G. Ayden helped by Mr. Alfred Smith who was also a bricklayer.
The site was cleared one Saturday afternoon by two brothers, Messrs D. and H. Stannard and Mr. B. Cunnell using a lorry loaned by Messrs W. Moore and Sons.
Mr. B.C. Storey lent a concrete mixer for surfacing. Mr. Smith aided by Messrs S. Messenger, R. Scopes, K. Stollery, R. Chatten and A. Mayhew built the brickwork up to receive the commemoration stone.
The commemoration stone was laid by Mrs. Heycock-Holland and beneath was placed a sealed tin box containing the names of all the helpers. The stone itself inscribed ‘E II R 1953’ was made and given by Mr. K. Mann.
Newspaper article (continued)
Benhall Oak was used for the roof timber, sawn out by Mr. A. Bloomfield and erected by Mr. E. Blunden and Mr. Storey. The shelter was tiled with tiles salvaged from a derelict building. They had been made at the now defunct Benhall brick kiln by Messrs S. Newson and sons.
“The shelter has not yet been officially handed over to the Parish Council,” remarked Mr. E.G. Ayden of Benhall Post Office to a reporter. “Everybody did his part quietly and Benhall now has a shelter of which is can be proud.”
However in 2025 the History Group were told of another person who helped with the building of this bus shelter, Graham Smith, who was aged just 3 years old in 1953 when he went with his father Mr. Alfred Smith to ‘help’ with the bricklaying!
