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Civic Heraldry of the United Kingdom

HACKNEY

Borough of London
Additions : 1965 Stoke Newington, Shoreditch

Origin/meaning :
The old (left) arms were granted in 1924, the new arms in 1969.
The tower in both arms is the tower of St. Augustine's Church and is the only part of the 13^th century fabric that still remains. The Manor of Hackney was held by the Order of the Knights of the Temple and later the Knights of the hospital of Saint John, which are symbolised by the cross. The colour of their robes were silver and black, which is further symbolised in the chief of the new arms. The wavy bars represent the River Lea and the canals in the borough.

After the merger the oak trees of the former arms of Stoke Newington were added in the chief.
The old, unofficial, arms of Shoreditch were not added to the new Hackney arms. Instead three bells, symbolising the St. Leonard's Church in Shoreditch, as well as the three former boroughs, were added in the base of the shield.

The tower was moved to the crest in the new arms and placed on a green mound, representing the island in the river Lea, where Hackney was founded.

Literature : Scott-Giles, C.W. : Civic heraldry of England and Wales, London, 1932; Information leaflet provided by the Borough of Hackney.

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