MELTON

Additions : 1973 Melton Rural District (1935 Belvoir RDC)

Origin/meaning :

The red and green quartering are derived from the colours of the De Mowbray family and agriculture respectively. The red colour also refers to an incident in 1837 when the Marquess of Waterford decided to paint many of the local buildings red after a fox-hunt.
The towers refer to the Borough status of Melton as well as to the former and present castles in the district, Melton, Thorpe Arnold and Belvoir Castles.
The wheatsheaves are a symbol for the agriculture in the district.
The lion is also taken from the arms of the De Mowbray family, Lords of Melton for over 400 years. The lion also appears in the crest. The lion in the crest holds a cross as a symbol for the many very old churches in the district. The lion also holds a scroll, which symbolises the Borough status and also refers to the Melton Town Estate. The Estate is a charity dating from 1549, founded by the townspeople of Melton.

The supporters are a black bull and a white horse. The bull represents Melton's cattle market, the horse the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in Melton, which traditionally took care of the horses of the British Army since the early 19^th century. The supporters wear collars with a symbolic letter M. They stand on a grassy base and two castles, referring to the agriculture and the castles mentioned above.