St Leonard

Pilgrim badge from a shrine of St Leonard, probably in England. This badge depicts a standing figure of St Leonard. He wears a bishop’s vestments and mitre. In his left hand is a crosier (its shaft is slightly bent) and his right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing. Fetters hang from his right wrist. He is standing on a scroll with an inscription: ‘S LENARD’.

St Leonard of Noblac was known as a liberator of prisoners and is often shown with fetters or manacles. His shrine at Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat in France was covered in fetters from the many prisoners who had offered them in thanks for their release. There seems to have been a shrine (or shrines) to St Leonard in England, for pilgrims who could not get to France during the Hundred Year’s War but its location is uncertain. English badges depict St Leonard as a bishop in vestments and carrying a crosier and fetters, as on this badge.