CIRENCESTER
Origin/meaning :
The arms were granted in 1983.
The main charge on the shield refers to cirencester's origin as a Roman town. It is blazoned as "the capital of a Roman column carved with acanthus leaves and in their midst a demi figure of a female habited holding in the sinister hand a disc mirror". The chief represents the later town. The embattled edge to the chief recalls Cirencester Castle. The phoenix was used as the unofficial arms of the town, and recalls the rebuilding of Cirencester after a disastrous fire. Although not officially recorded this device is believed locally to have been granted by Queen Elizabeth I.
The crest refers to the agricultural nature of the town, showing an arm holding a scythe. This rises from an ancient crown above a circular wall, recalling that Cirencester was once a Royal Borough.
Literature : Image and information provided by Laurence Jones (laurencejones@eircom.net)
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