West Yorkshire

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

WEST YORKSHIRE

Additions : 1974 Yorkshire - West Riding (partly)

Official blazon

Arms : Or two Piles Azure [over all] a Rose Argent barbed and seeded proper.
Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours a Mural Crown Or standing thereon a Lion rampant guardant per fess Gules and Tenne crowned Or bearing in its forepaws a Rose Argent barbed and seeded proper.
Supporters : Dexter a Lion rampant guardant per fess Gules and Sable armed and langued Azure crowned and charged on the shoulder with a Sun in splendour Or sinister a Lion rampant guardant per fess Tenne and Vert armed and langued Gules crowned Or charged on the shoulder with a Rose Argent barbed and seeded proper, the whole upon a Compartment representing the Pennine Hills.
Motto : 'BY EFFORT ACHIEVE'

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on ?

The two main charges form the letter W and the rose is the symbol for Yorkshire, thus creating a canting type of arms. The shield is divided into five parts which stand for the five districts, as do the petals of the rose.

The crest consists of a lion, holding the white rose of Yorkshire.

The two lion supporters are the British lions. They are divided horizontally in colour to symbolise the new county structure of local government, and also the mid-way position of the county in Britain.
The dexter supporter represents industry, and has on his shoulder the sun, source of all energy. The sinister supporter's colours are for agriculture, and it bears a white rose for the countryside.

The base represents the Pennine hills and caries the motto By Effort Achieve.

Literature : Image and information provided by the West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council