Chapel-en-le-Frith

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CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH

Additions: 1934 Glossop Dale RDC, Hayfield RDC
Incorporated into: 1974 High Peak

Official blazon

Arms : Vert a Stag's Head caboshed between the attires a Cross formy Or a Chief dancettée of the last over all in chief a Lion passant guardant Gules.
Crest : Out of a Circlet Vert charged with four Gouttes d'Eau the Battlements of a Tower issuant therefrom a demi-Lion Argent collared vairy Or and Gules and holding in the paws an Escutcheon per pale Argent and Azure charged with a Rose Gules barbed and seeded proper.
Motto: 'CAVE ET SPERA' - Beware and hope.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on April 8, 1954.

The green background and the gold stag's head represent the ancient Royal Forest of the Peak, and the gold cross represents the Chapel, built in the Forest in 1225 by the Verderers. The indented line suggests the hills, and the lion, a variant of the Royal Lion of England, striding across the hills, suggests the first National Park in the ancient royal forest country.

The green circlet bearing four drops of water represents the four great local reservoirs. The white tower and lion are for the Peverils of Castleton, the lion's collar bears the red and gold of the Ferrers Earls of Derby, and the red rose on a shield of the Lancastrian liveries of white and blue recalls the Duchy of Lancaster. Thus the manorial and feudal vicissitudes of the whole district are recalled in the crest.

The motto suggests the virtues of prudence and ambition combined, and also give an heraldic play on the cave country and Hope dale districts.