Dacorum

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

DACORUM

Additions : 1974 Berkhamsted RDC, Berkhamsted UDC, Hemel Hempstead (Borough), Hemel Hempstead UDC, Saint Albans RDC (partly), Tring UDC, Watford RDC (partly)

Official blazon

Arms : Or seven Oak Leaves stalks inward Vert radiating from a Tudor Rose proper.
Crest : A Sprig of seven Oak Leaves proper and Acorns Or inflected to the sinister out of a Mural Crown Or, Mantled Or and Gules.
Supporters : Two Stags in trian aspect proper attired and unguled Or gorged with a Wreath Or and Gules ribbons flowing outward depending therefrom a Bezant charged with Oak Leaves and a Tudor Rose as in the Arms. Standing on a Compartment Vert strewn with Sprigs of Oak Leaves proper and Acorns Or.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on January 21, 1992, but have been in use since May 1, 1986.

The gold shield with a Tudor Rose recall the unofficial shield used by Hemel Hempstead, which had a portrait of King Henry VIII on a gold shield. The seven oak leaves are for the seven merged councils.

The crest has a mural crown, symbol of local government, from which rises a seven leaved oak sprig.

Dacorum is in Hertfordshire and the arms are supported by the County's badge of a Royal Hart. As harts are so much used, the supporters are shown "in trian aspect" or three quarter view to make them distinctive. They are gorged with wreaths of the livery colours from which hang roundels of the arms.

The compartment is shown as grass strewn with oak branches bearing gold acorns.

Literature : Information provided by the Dacorum council (http://www.dacorum.gov.uk)