The Pile
The pile (Fig. 143) is a triangular wedge usually (and unless otherwise specified) issuing from the chief. The pile is subject to the usual lines of partition (Figs. 144-151).
The early representation of the pile (when coats of arms had no secondary charges and were nice and simple) made the point nearly reach to the base of the escutcheon, and as a consequence it naturally was not so wide. It is now usually drawn so that its upper edge occupies very nearly the whole of the top line of the escutcheon; but the angles and proportions of the pile are very much at the discretion of the artist, and governed by the charges which need to be introduced in the field of the escutcheon or upon the pile.
A single pile may issue from any point of the escutcheon except the base; the arms of Darbishire showing a pile issuing from the dexter chief point.
A single pile cannot issue in base if it be unaccompanied by other piles, as the field would then be blazoned per chevron.
Two piles issuing in chief will be found in the arms of Holles, Earl of Clare.
When three piles, instead of pointing directly at right angles to the line of the chief, all point to the same point, touching or nearly touching at the tips, as in the arms of the Earl of Huntingdon and Chester or in the arms of Isham,9 they are described as three piles in point. This term and its differentiation probably are modern refinements, as with the early long-pointed shield any other position was impossible. The arms of Henderson show three piles issuing from the sinister side of the escutcheon.
A disposition of three piles which will very frequently be found in modern British heraldry is two issuing in chief and one in base (Fig. 152).
Piles terminating in fleurs-de-lis or crosses patée are to be met with, and reference may be made to the arms of Poynter and Dickson-Poynder. Each of these coats has the field pily counter-pily, the points ending in crosses formée.
An unusual instance of a pile in which it issues from a chevron will be found in the arms of Wright, which are: “Sable, on a chevron argent, three spear-heads gules, in chief two unicorns’ heads erased argent, armed and maned or, in base on a pile of the last, issuant from the chevron, a unicorn’s head erased of the field.”