Sutton and Cheam

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

SUTTON AND CHEAM

Additions : 1928 Cheam (from Epson Rural District), Sutton (Urban District)
Incorporated into : 1965 London Borough of Sutton

Official blason :
ARMS: Azure on a Pale Argent between a Bezant and a Plate each charged with a Key wards upward and outward the dexter Azure and the sinister Gules four Crosses formy fitchy in pale Sable.
CREST: On a Wreath of the Colours a Popinjay proper gorged Gules holding in the dexter claw a Cross formy fitchy Sable.
MOTTO: 'SERVE GOD AND BE CHEERFUL'.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on October 16, 1934.

The black crosses on the sliver central section are from the arms of the See of Canterbury, which held Cheam from 1018 until what were by then the two manors of East Cheam and West Cheam were acquired by Henry VIII over five hundred years later, at the time he was building Nonsuch Palace nearby. The keys of St. Peter are from the arms of the Benedictine Abbey of Chertsey which owned Sutton at the time of the Domesday survey, and held it until 1583.

The popinjay or parrot is from the the arms of the Lumleys, anciently Lords of the Manor of Cheam. John, Lord Lumley, who, in 1579 became the owner of Nonsuch Palace, held both Cheam manors from then until his death in 1609. The popinjay holds in its claw another cross from Canterbury.

The motto is that of John Hackett, Bishop of Lichfield, who was Rector of Cheam, 1624-62.

Literature : Image and information provided by Laurence Jones.