Haverfordwest

	HAVERFORDWEST Country : United Kingdom Wales Incorporated into: 1974 Preseli 1996 Pembrokeshire Status: <1974 Borough Town council Loading map... {"minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"mappingservice":"leaflet","width":"250px","height":"250px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":7,"defzoom":14,"layers":["OpenStreetMap"],"image layers":[],"overlays":[],"resizable":false,"fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":true,"cluster":false,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clustermaxradius":80,"clusterspiderfy":true,"geojson":"","clicktarget":"","imageLayers":[],"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":51.802289999999999281499185599386692047119140625,"lon":-4.9713399999999996481392372515983879566192626953125,"icon":""}],"imageoverlays":null}

Official blazon
English	Arms: Barry wavy Argent and Azure a Lymphad sails set proper and flags flying Gules on a Chief Vert a Castle triple-towered between two Plumes each of [three] Ostrich Feathers Argent. Crest: On a Wreath Argent and Vert out of the Battlements of an hexagonal Tower a demi Man winding a Horn proper habited per pale Vert and Argent on his head a Steel Cap proper. Supporters: On the dexter side a Dragon Gules the undersides of the wings charged with a Cross Or thereon five Cinquefoils Sable and on the sinister side a Lion Sable about the neck an Ancient Crown [Eastern or antique crown] with a Chain reflexed over the back Or. Motto: 'O LECTOR SALVE COELI PATEANT TIBI VALVE' - O reader hail, may the Gates of Heaven stand open for thee

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on October 5, 1966, transferred to the town council on April 16, 1975.

The blue and white waves are a reminder of the importance of the River Cleddau, which was used to bring most of the trade into the centre of Haverfordwest. The ship and the castle are taken from the obverse and reverse of the Common Seal, refering to the port and castle. The feathers refer to the granting of a charter to the town by Edward, Prince of Wales, in 1479.

The figure on the crest is also derived from the Common Seal, his jerkin is coloured white and green, which were those worn by the Prince of Wales's Welsh troops fighting in the French campaigns.

The red dragon represents Wales and the gold cross and cinquefoils (not shown in image) on its wing are from the arms of the See of St. Davids. The black lion with gold collar and chain is derived from the arms of Philipps of Picton, a family closely associated with the town.

The motto is also taken from the Common Seal.

Image gallery

The arms as used on a JaJa postcard +/- 1905
The arms in the Coffee Hag albums +/- 1935

Literature: Image and information from here

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