East Hampshire

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

EAST HAMPSHIRE

Additions : 1974 Alton RDC, Alton UDC, Petersfield RDC, Petersfield UDC

Official blazon

Arms : Vert on each of two Pales Argent a Palet wavy Azure all between five Beech Nuts in cross Or.
Crest : Out of a Mural Crown Or a Natterjack Toad salient Vert.
Motto : 'MENTE ET MANU' - By mind and hand.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on ??-??-1980.

The arms have a green field as the district is predominantly rural. The white stripes are for the chalk downs and the blue waves for the Rivers Rother and Wey. The beech nuts have a double significance. Firstly, they stand for the many beech woodlands and hangers of East Hampshire. Secondly, the beech nuts refer to the words beech and book both being derived from the Germanic root boks. In this way the literary associations of the District are suggested. Jane Austen, Edward Thomas and Gilbert White were all local residents.

The crest consists of a mural crown from which rises a Natterjack Toad. The district contains one of the few British breeding sites of this endangered species.

Literature : Image and information provided by Laurence Jones.