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Civic Heraldry of the United Kingdom

WESTMINSTER

Borough of London
Additions : 1965 St. Marylebone, Paddington

Origin/meaning :
The arms were granted in 1601, supporters and crest in 1902.
The arms are composed of the emblems of two monarchs who are associated with Westminster Abbey: Edward the Confessor and Henry VII. The roses are the Tudor roses. The ermine lions are derived from the arms of the Cecil family, which hach held many public offices in the city.

Following the addition of St.Marylebone and paddington, the City was granted new arms on September 2, 1964.
In the base of the shield is the madonna and child, which was the crest of St. Marylebone. The waves also featured in the arms of St. Marylebone, where they referred to Tyburn Brook.
In the new arms they also stand for the City's situation along the banks of the River Thames. On either side of the Madonna are two wolves' heads from the arms of Paddington. They came originally from the arms of Paddington's first mayor, Sir John Aird.
The chief is identical to that used in the old Westminster arms. In the centre are the attributed arms of King Edward the Confessor, founder of Westminster Abbey. The Tudor roses refer to thr Tudor dynasty who raised Westminster to City status, and established a palace there, which is now the seat of Britain's parliament.

The portcullis in the crest is another Tudor badge, particularly associated with Westminster. On either side are a Tudor rose and a lily, symbol of St. Mary.

The supporters are the ermine lions of the Cecil family, for Sir William Cecil, Steward of Westminster. These lions appear in other English civic arms, for instance Peterborough. They wear mural crowns around the necks for the two Boroughs merged with Westminster. The blue crown with crossed lillies is for St. Marylebone, the gold one with crossed swords for Paddington. The swords are derived from the arms of the See of London.

Literature : Scott-Giles, C.W. : Civic heraldry of England and Wales, London, 1932; New image and information provided by Laurence Jones

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