Wyre

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

WYRE

Additions : 1974 Fleetwood (Borough), Garstang RDC, Poulton-le-Fylde UDC, Preesall UDC, Thornton Cleveleys UDC

Official blazon

Arms : Or on a Pile Azure between five Roses Gules barbed and seeded proper issuant from Water barry wavy of four Argent and Azure a Lymphad sail furled Or flying flags and pennon of St. George.
Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours within a Circlet of four Sprigs of Heather proper and four Escallops reversed Argent alternately a representation of a Fylde Windmill proper.
Supporters : On the dexter side a Wolf Argent and on the sinister side a Lion Or each gorged with a Collar Azure charged with a Barrulet wavy Argent pendent therefrom a Pentagon that on the dexter Or charged with a Martlet Azure that on the sinister Gules charged with a Cinquefoil Ermine.
Motto : 'UTRAQUE PARTE FLUMINIS' - On either side of the river

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on December 3, 1975.

The blue "Pile" or triangle represents the Wyre Estuary, grouped round which are five red roses of Lancaster on gold (as in the County arms). The rose appears in each of the arms of the five constituent councils, Fleetwood, Thornton Cleveleys, Poulton-le-Fylde, Preesall and Garstang, and represents them in that geographical order. Within the triangle on two white waves is a lymphad or ancient galley in gold, a stylised heraldic ship which is common to the arms of Fleetwood, Poulton-le-Fylde and Preesall, the sites of ancient and modern Wyre ports.

Above the shield is the closed helmet proper to Civic Heraldry, with its crest wreath and decorative mantling in the basic colours of the shield, blue and gold. These are the heraldic colours of the Butlers, mediaeval Lords of Amounderness and of the Fleetwood family.
The crest itself typifies the three "faces" of the North Fylde area. At the base is a circlet of alternate sprigs of heather and white scallop shells representing the eastern fell country around Garstang and the seaside on the west; rising from the circlet is a typical Fylde windmill of the kind found in the western and central areas.

The supporters symbolise the historic families of the district. On the left is the white wolf of the Fleetwoods (for Fleetwood, Thornton Cleveleys, Poulton-le-Fylde and the Hackinsall part of Preesall). He is collared with a blue and white wave for the Wyre, from which hangs a pentagon (reminder of the five united Councils) showing a blue martlet on gold from the arms of the Fleetwoods and the Elletsons of Parrox in Preesall.
On the right is the gold lion of the de Lancaster family, which appeared on the old Garstang Borough seal. He has a similar collar and pentagon showing the ermine cinquefoil on red of the Hamiltons.

The motto "Utraque parte fluminis" is taken from the Book of Revelation of the Vulgate Latin Bible, Chapter XXII Verse 2.

Literature : Image and information provided by Laurence Jones.