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Civic Heraldry of the United Kingdom England

CAMBRIDGESHIRE (incl. Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely)

Old : Incorporated into : 1965 Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (addition of Isle of Ely)
New : Additions : 1974 Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely, Huntingdon and Peterborough (1965 Huntingdonshire, Soke of Peterborough)

Origin/meaning :
Cambridgeshire has had three grants of arms. The present arms are shown above.

In 1974 a new Cambridgeshire County Council was created from the two counties of Cambridgeshire and Ely (see below) and Huntingdon and Peterborough. The 1974 arms have a gold shield with a red bordure based on the Scottish tressure. The blue wavy pallets represent the many rivers of the County, while the straight pallets are for the drains and dykes that run through the Fenlands.
The bustard supporters are continued from the 1965 arms, but with neck badges for the added areas of Peterborough (crossed keys) and Huntingdon (hunting horn). The motto combines that of the two old counties and translates as "Let us be wise with one heart".

The first grant was in 1914. The gold wave on a blue shield represents the river Cam, and the trade brought to the county by it. The many waterways of the Fenlands are also suggested. The distinctive double-tressure is taken from the Royal arms of Scotland, as the Earldom of Cambridge was held by the Scottish crown. The castle in the crest is Cambridge Castle as found in the City Council's arms.
Above the door of the castle is a helm from the arms of Sir H G Fordham, chairman of the County Council at the time of the grant. The supporters are Great Bustards, now extinct in England. It is claimed that the last of these were in Cambridgeshire. However Wiltshire County Council make a similar claim and have a Bustard as their crest. The motto is "Per Undas Per Agros" or "By water and land".

In 1965 Cambridgeshire was merged with the neighbouring Isle of Ely County Council and new arms were granted to the new Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely County Council.
The 1965 arms have a gold field and red tressure from the arms of Scotland. The the wavy bend is blue and bears three gold crowns from the arms of Isle of Ely. Three gold crowns on blue were the attributed arms of the Kingdom of East Anglia and are used by the Bishopric of Ely.
The bustard supporters were retained, but for heraldic difference stand upon red books from the arms of Cambridge University. The motto "Sapientes Simus" means "Let us be wise".

Literature : Image and information provided by Laurence Jones.

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