Wyvern College

The Wyvern is a legendary creature with a dragon’s head and wings, a reptilian body, two legs and a tail.

It has a long association with Branksome Hall, Darlington the home of John Kitching, a railway entrepreneur and founder of Darlington Unionist Association. The family also founded a foundry in the town, now known as The Whessoe Foundry, on Whessoe Road. He was also a Quaker.

The Kitching family crest originally contained a knight’s helmet and shield with three logos, but John removed the helmet, added the Wyvern for protection and the motto ‘Nunquam cedo’, which means ‘I never yield’.