Doncaster
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Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom |
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DONCASTER
Metropolitan borough council
Additions : 1974 Adwick-le-Street UDC, Bentley with Arksey UDC, Conisbrough UDC, Doncaster (Borough), Doncaster RDC, East Retford RDC (partly), Mexborough UDC, Thorne UDC, Tickhill UDC, Worksop RDC (partly)
Official blazon
Arms : Per pale Sable and Vert issuant from barry wavy of four in base Argent and Azure a Port between two Towers each with a conical cap ensigned by a ball the Portcullis raised between eight Roses three three and two Argent barbed and seeded proper.
Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours upon the Battlements of a Tower an Owl Argent gorged with a collar company Or and Azure between two Branches of Oak issuant each having four leaves and fructed of four Acorns proper.
Supporters : On either side a Lion sejant Or that on the dexter gorged with a representation of the device of British Rail Gules pendent therefrom a Miner's Safety Lamp proper that on the sinister gorged with a Flash of Lightning Azure pendent therefrom by the ring an Anchor Sable.
Motto : 'BE STEADFAST'
Origin/meaning
The arms were officially granted on September 1, 1975.
The shield is half black and half green to represent the union of industrial and rural areas in the borough. The castle comes from the old Doncaster arms. Around are placed eight white roses, symbol of Yorkshire for eight Yorkshire councils combined.
The ermine cushion in the crest was found in the old Doncaster arms. The owl is a symbol of wisdom. On either side is an oak branch one for each rural district combined in the new borough.
The sitting lions were used as supporters in the old Doncaster arms. Each has a distinctive collar. The dexter lion has a collar forming a version of the British Rail logo. This shows the importance of Doncaster as a railway town. From the collar hangs a miner's lamp, for coal mining. The sinister lion has a lightning flash for a collar, symbolic of electricity generation. From this hangs an anchor for shipping.
Borough
Official blazon
Arms : Gules a Port between two Towers with Flags Argent the Portcullis raised Sable in chief a Saxon Crown Or.
Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours upon a Cushion Ermine a Lion sejant Or grasping between his paws a Staff proper flying therefrom a Banner Azure fringed and tasselled Gold thereon upon Waves Argent ans Azure a Port between two Towers as in the Arms charged with the word DON in letters Sable.
Supporters : On either side a Lion sejant Or holding in the mouth a Rose Argent barbed seeded leaved and slipped proper.
Motto : 'COMFORT ET LIESSE' - Comfort and joy
Origin/meaning
The arms were officially granted on March 28, 1927.
The arms and crest are based on unauthorised ones previously used, except that they differed by containing a Royal rather than a Saxon crown. The Saxon crown is appropriate inasmuch as in the reign of Edward the Confessor, Doncaster, then part of the Manor of Hexthorp, belonged to Earl Tostig. In the time of Henry I it passed into the royal hands.
The banner visually represents the name and the white roses refer to Yorkshire.
 The arms as used on a JaJa postcard +/- 1905 |
Literature : Images provided by the http://www.doncaster.gov.uk Doncaster council]