The largest heraldry site on the net, with presently coats of arms on-line !

Civic Heraldry of the United Kingdom England

NEWCASTLE UNDER LYME

Additions : 1974 Kidsgrove, Newcastle-under-Lyme RDC

Origin/meaning :
The arms were granted in 1975.
The shield features the castle, waves and fishes from the 1951 arms of the former Borough (see iamge below), and two Stafford Knots to indicate the other two authorities. The castle and knots are in gold on blue, the colours of the Earldom of Chester, whose banner was seen in the former Borough Crest.

The crest is based on the device of Kidsgrove, which depicts kids in a grove of trees. In a more stylised crest, one of the oak trees, on a grassv mound, is shown entwined with a gold Stafford knot and supported by two kids.

The supporters are the black lions with scythes over their shoulders, which supported the 1951 arms. These emblems from the arms of the Sneyd family, were also seen in the device of Newcastle RDC. The scythe, or sned, (a pun on the name) is also a charge in the arms of the University of Keele, which is in the RDC area. As a necessary difference from the 1951 supporters, open books with gold binding and edges hang by steel chains about the lions' necks, representing the District's important educational amenities, especially the University of Keele in the rural area, linked with the engineering industry.

The motto combines elements frorn those of the old Borough and the RDC in a three-word phrase: CONSTANTIA, SCIENTIA, PRUDENTIA - By steadfastness, knowledge and foresight.

Previously the council used the arms below:

These arms were granted on December 21, 1951.
The design incorporates many features from the Common Seal. The red castle replaces the depiction of the Guildhall and can also be seen as representing the 'new castle' built in the twel^th century by the Earls of Chester. The waves and fishes also from the Common Seal are retained. The lion and fleurs-de-lis are from the arms of the Duchy of Lancaster.
The lion with the forked tail represent Simon de Montfort and the banner is that of the Earls of Chester. The red Stafford knot is a reference to the County.
The black lions with scythes over their shoulders are from the heraldry of the Sneyd family. The scythe or 'sned' (a pun on their name) is also a charge in the arms of the then new University College of North Staffordshire which was domicled at Keele Hall, a former Sneyd residence.
The motto has been associated with the Borough for very many years.

Literature : Image and information provided by Laurence Jones and from here

Home © Ralf Hartemink 1996, ->

See also my other sites Food-Info.net and Food Dictionary