WATFORD
Origin/meaning :
The arms were granted in 1922.
The blue and silver wave depicts the River Colne and its banks. It is charged with a fasces, symbol of Roman government. This represents both the Roman remains of the area and the modern local gpvernment. The scallops were taken from the arms of the Clarendon family, founders of the Clarendon Press. Lord Clarendon was the town's first mayor in 1922. On the chief are two harts to show that Watford is in Hertfordshire. Between them is a roundel of the arms of the City of St. Albans, long associated with the area.
The motto is AUDENTIOR, meaning "with greater boldness" and is taken from
Virgil's Aeniad.
Literature : Image and information provided by Laurence Jones (laurencejones@eircom.net)