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Civic Heraldry of the United Kingdom England

LEWES District Council

Additions : 1974 Lewes, Newhaven, Seaford and Chailey Rural District

Origin/meaning :
The bordure is based on the old Lewes Borough arms, see below. This combined the gold lion on red of the Fitzalans with the gold and blue chequy of the de Warennes. In the new arms, the gold and blue compony bordure reminds us of the checks, while the lion has become a sea lion. The sea lion reflects the maritime and coastal nature of the larger district.

The crest has a black eagle from Seaford's arms and originally used by the Aquila family. The golden anchor is taken from the device of Newhaven. the Saxon crown is to denote that The district lies in the ancient Kingdom of the South Saxons and is also found in the East Sussex County Council arms.

The previous Lewes Borough Council used the arms below:

These arms were recorded without colours at the visitation of 1634. The arms were officially described ('certified') by the York Herald on November 19, 1894 and again on June 10, 1963.

Literature : Information provided by Lewes District Council, New arms used with permission, do not reproduce; Briggs, 1971

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