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Civic Heraldry of the United Kingdom England

DONCASTER

Additions : 1974 Adwick-le-Street, Bentley with Arksey, Conisbrough, Doncaster RDC, Mexborough, Thorne, Tickhill

Origin/meaning :
In 1974 Doncaster merged with seven other Yorkshire councils. The above arms were granted following amalgamation.

The shield is half black and half green to represent the union of industrial and rural areas in the borough. The castle comes from the old Doncaster arms. Around are placed eight white roses, symbol of Yorkshire for eight Yorkshire councils combined.
The ermine cushion in the crest was found in the old Doncaster arms. The owl is a symbol of wisdom. On either side is an oak branch one for each rural district combined in the new borough.
The sitting lions were used as supporters in the old Doncaster arms. Each has a distinctive collar. The dexter lion has a collar forming a version of the British Rail logo. This shows the importance of Doncaster as a railway town. From the collar hangs a miner's lamp, for coal mining. The sinister lion has a lightning flash for a collar, symbolic of electricity generation. From this hangs an anchor for shipping.

Previously the city used the arms below, granted on March 28, 1927:

The arms and crest are based on unauthorised ones previously used (see image below), except that they differed by containing a Royal rather than a Saxon crown. The Saxon crown is appropriate inasmuch as in the reign of Edward the Confessor, Doncaster, then part of the Manor of Hexthorp, belonged to Earl Tostig. In the time of Henry I it passed into the royal hands.
The banner visually represents the name and the white roses refer to Yorkshire.

Literature : Images provided by Doncaster council (www.doncaster.gov.uk); old image from Ja-Ja postcard

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