Calne
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 Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom |
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CALNE (Borough council)
Incorporated into: 1974 North Wiltshire (2009 Wiltshire)
Official blazon
Arms : Sable a Tower towered and domed Argent between two Ostrich Feathers of the last a like Feather in the portway each Feather piercing an Escrol Or.
Crest : A Mural Crown ensigned by a Mitre Or jewelled proper in front of two archiepiscopal staves in saltire also proper.
Supporters : On either side a Boar Gules armed and crined Or gorged with a Garland of Teaze1s Argent.
Motto: 'FAITH WORK SERVICE'
Origin/meaning
The arms were recorded at the Visitation of l565, the crest and supporters were granted on November 10, 1950.
The feathers of the Heir Apparent refer to the fact that Calne was formerly part of the Duchy of Cornwall.
The ecclesiastical emblems in the crest recall a disastrous meeting in AD 978 when St Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury met the Witenagemot in order to justify his controversial Church reforms, which involved the secular priests being replaced by Benedictine monks and the influence of landowners over churches on their lands being taken away. According to legend, at one point Dunstan called upon God to support his cause, at which point the floor of the two-storey building collapsed killing most of his opponents, whilst Dunstan and his supporters were in the part that remained standing. This was claimed as a miracle by Dunstan's supporters. The incident was recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle thus, "All the oldest counsellors of England fell at Calne from an upper floor; but the holy Archbishop Dunstan stood alone upon a beam. Some were dreadfully bruised, and some did not escape with life."
The boars represent Calne's pork processing industry that once dominated the town. It is said that the industry developed because pigs reared in Ireland were landed at Bristol and then herded across England on drovers' roads to Smithfield, London, passing through Calne.
The teazles refer to the former woollen broadcloth industry in the 18th century. Evidence of this can be seen on The Green, where many buildings remain, such as Georgian era clothiers' houses and some of the 20 original cloth mills along the River Marden. St Mary's parish church was built by the generous donations of rich clothiers and wool merchants in the 15th century.
The arms are presently used by the town council.
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© since 1995, Heraldry of the World, Ralf Hartemink 
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