North Wiltshire

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NORTH WILTSHIRE

Additions: 1974 Calne (Borough), Calne and Chippenham RDC, Chippenham (Borough), Cricklade & Wooton Bassett RDC, Malmesbury (borough), Malmesbury RDC
Incorporated into : 2009 Wiltshire

Official blazon

Arms : Ermine two Bars wavy Azure issuant from the base a Tree of three branches overall proper the trunk enflllng a Saxon Crown Or.
Crest : On a Wreath Argent and Vert out of a Mural Crown Or in front of a double-headed Eagle displayed Sable a Magnetic Needle erect ensigned by an Estoile of six rays Gold.
Supporters : Two Horses Argent each gorged with a Riband pendant therefrom by a ring a Mitre Gold.
Motto: 'VIRTUTE IN FACTIS' - By courage in our deeds

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on February 28, 1980.

The shield is ermine for Ermine Street, as in the arms of Cricklade Parish Council, two blue waves for the River Avon and Thames, and a stylised tree of three branches, taken from the ancient seal of Chippenham Borough Council and the Calne and Chippenham RDC arms in token of the Royal Forests of Braydon, Chippenham, Melksham and Selwood in whose area the District lies. Round the trunk is a gold Saxon crown for many associations with the Saxon Kings, including the Royal Forests themselves, the residence of the Kings of Wessex at Corsham and the benefactions of King Athelstan at Malmesbury, in whose arms the crown appears.

The whole shield is therefore a general topographical and historical expression of the District.

The crest is based on a gold mural or battlemented crown from the crest of Calne Borough Council in reference to the Castles at Calne, Castle Combe and Malmesbury. Two of the Districts most notable families are represented by the double headed black eagle of the Methuens and the gold magnetic pointer and star of the Lansdownes, seen also in the Calne and Chippenham Rural District Council crest. The supporters are two white horses, for the characteristic local chalk hillside horses as seen in the Cricklade Parish Council arms. Each has a gold ribbon about the neck from which hangs a gold mitre taken from the arms of Calne and Malmesbury and of Calne and Chippenham Rural District Council in reference to the abbeys of Malmesbury, Lacock and Glastonbury, which had associations with several parishes in the area.

The motto is "Virtute in Factis", combining the "Virtus" and "Virtute" elements of the Methuen and Lansdowne mottos with the "Factis" of the Neelds. This has a double sense: "By courage in our deeds" and "By virtue in their deeds" referring to the acts of many historical and modern benefactors.