Guildford

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GUILDFORD

Borough Council

Additions: 1974 Guildford (Borough), Guildford RDC

Official blazon

Arms : Sable on a Mount Vert between two Woolpacks a Castle with three Towers Argent the central one triple-towered and charged with a Shield of the Royal Arms of France and England quarterly the outer towers each surmounted by a Spire under the battlements two Roses in fesse and within the open port beneath a Portcullis a Key all Or on the Mount before the port a Lion couchant guardant also Or the Base barry wavy Argent and Azure all within a Bordure Or charged with three Cornish choughs proper.
Crest : Out of a Coronet composed of four Ears of Wheat and as many Acorns slipped and leaved set alternately upon a Rim Or, a demi-Lion Argent about the neck a Rope proper entwined there with a Key fessewise Sable and between the forepaws a Flaxbreaker Gold.
Motto: 'FORTITER ET FIDELITER' - Bravely and faithfully

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on January 8, 1975.

The arms are a combination of the arms of the former Borough of Guildford with the addition of a gold border charged with the Cornish Coughs from the arms of the Guildford RDC.

The crest is very similar to that of the Guildford RDC, suitably differenced by the substitution of a key for the original anchor, which presumably is derived from the keys in the County arms.

Borough

Official blazon

Sable on a Mount Vert between two Woolpacks Argent a Castle with three Towers Argent the central one triple-towered and charged with a Shield of the Royal Arms of France and England quarterly the outer towers each surmounted by a Spire under the battlements two Roses in fesse and within the open port beneath a Portcullis a Key all Or on the mount before the port a Lion chouchant guardant also Or the base barry wavy Argent and Azure.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially recorded at the Visitations of 1623 and 1662-3.

The castle is the former Norman castle, with the combined arms of England and France on the middle tower. The lion in front is the English lion and the whole gate shows the importance of Guildford as an important border fortress. The woolpacks are a symbol for the wool trade and textile industry in the city.