Werl

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WERL

State : Nordrhein-Westfalen
District (Kreis) : Soest
Additions : 1975 Amt Bremen (partly), Budberg, Blumenthal, Büderich (1964 Ostbüderich, Westbüderich), Hilbeck, Holtum, Mawicke, Niederbergstrasse, Oberbergstrasse, Scheidingen (partly), Sönnern, Westönnen

Official blazon

(de)

Origin/meaning

The arms of Werl were granted on January 28, 1911.

Werl received city rights from the Archbishops of Köln in 1271. The oldest seal is known since 1280 and shows the patron saint of Köln, St. Peter on a throne and holding two crossed keys and a book, as well as a small shield with the black cross of the State of Köln. Later seals all show similar images.

In the meantime the city used a different coat of arms, known since 1558. It showed the cross of Köln and a single key for St. Peter. In the 17^th century the shield was held by two knights as supporters. The latter were removed when the arms were officially granted in 1911.