Marlborough (Borough)

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MARLBOROUGH

Incorporated into : 1974 Kennet

Official blazon

Arms : Per saltire gules and azure, in chief a bull passant argent armed Or, in fesse two capons, and in base three greyhounds courant in pale of the third collared of the first; a chief also Or, thereon on a pale of the second between two roses gules a tower triple-towered argent.
Crest : On a Wreath Or Gules and Sable upon a Mount Vert in front of a tower triple-towered argent a Rose Gules barbed seeded slipped and leaved proper.
Supporters : On either side a Greyhound Argent gorged with a Collar Gules chaged with three Roses Argent barbed and seeded proper.
Motto: 'UBI NUNC SAPIENTIS OSSA MERLINI' - Where now are the bones of wise Merlin

Origin/meaning

The arms were recorded at the Visitation of 1565, the crest and supporters were officially granted on ?

The original arms of Marlborough were as borne on the pale of the chief - "Azure, a castle triple towered Argent". The newer arms refer to the custom that when a burgess was admitted to the Corporation, he had to give the mayor a leash of white greyhounds, a white bull and two capons.

About 1836 the Corporation adopted a crest of a white tower, and two white greyhounds as supporters. These were never approved by the College of Arms.

In 1974 the Borough was merged into the District of Kennet, and a successor Town Council formed. The arms were transferred to the Town Council, and suitably differenced crest and supporters granted.

The motto means, "Where now are the bones of wise Merlin". This refers to a legend that College Mound in the town is Merlin's burial place.