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Civic Heraldry of the United Kingdom
England

SPELTHORNE

Additions : 1974 Staines, Sunbury on Thames

Origin/meaning :
The arms were granted in 1975.
The shield is divided by a straight line across the middle. In the lower half alternate waves of blue and white, common to both Councils' Arms represent the Thames. Against them stands a thorn tree recalling the famous tree which gave its name to the ancient Hundred of Spelthorne in Middlesex. Spanning the waves is Staines Bridge, and behind it rises the allusive sun from Sunbury's Crest, against a background of blue. As well as alluding to Sunbury, the sun suggests the dawn of a new life for Spelthorne.

The crest shows upon two crossed seaxes (Saxon swords), common to both Councils' Arms, is perched a swan representing the River Thames, an important factor in the life of the Borough. Whilst the swords suggest two former Middlesex authorities, the new Borough in Surrey is symbolised by two sprigs of oak, each of two acorns, from the Surrey County Council's Arms.

The motto is a combination of Staines' Ad Pontes Prospicimus ("At the Bridges we look forward") and Sunbury's Sol Et Paster Deus ("God is my Sun and my Shepherd") in the sentence Ad Solem Prospicimus. Literally "We look towards the Sun", the motto implies that "We face the dawn of a new civic era".

Literature : Information provided by Laurence Jones (laurencejones@eircom.net)


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