Tonbridge

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TONBRIDGE

Incorporated into : 1974 Tonbridge and Malling

Arms (crest) of Tonbridge

Official blazon

Arms : Argent five Pallets wavy Azure a Chief Or over all a Bridge of five arches masoned proper and in base an Ancient Ship with oars Sable sail set and colours flying Gules.
Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours a Port between two Towers masoned proper their conical roofs Azure on the dexter tower a Torteau charged with a Lion passant guardant Or and on the sinister tower a Bezant charged with three Chevronels Gules.
Motto: 'SALUS POPULI SUPEREMA LEX' - The good of the people is the supreme law.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on September 30, 1935.

The bridge of five arches and the five streams represent the five waterways that once crossed Tonbridge High Street, three of which have now been culverted. The ship imposed across these implies the importance to Tonbridge of the making navigable of the River Medway, particularly before the coming of the railway.

The two towers at the top represent Tonbridge Castle. The left tower is allowed to carry the Royal emblem of a ‘Lion passant guardant’ because the Great Seal of England was kept for some time in Tonbridge Castle during one of the visits to France of Edward I. The three chevrons on the right tower are from the arms of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and ancient Lord of Tonbridge.

The motto is from Cicero.


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