Suffolk Coastal

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SUFFOLK COASTAL

Additions : 1974 Aldeburgh, Blyth RDC (1934 Blything RDC (1886 Dunwich borough)), Deben RDC, Felixstowe UDC, Leiston-cum-Sizewell UDC, Saxmundham UDC, Woodbridge UDC
Incorporated into : 2019 East Suffolk

Official blazon

Arms : Barry wavy of eight Azure and Argent a Lymphad sail set Or flying flags and pennon of St. George on a Chief Or three Pellets that in the centre charged with a Cross engrailed and the others each with an Escallop of seven lobes Or.
Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours in front of a Port between two square Towers proper issuant therefrom a rising Sun of seven rays a Mitre Or.
Motto: 'NEW VIEWS TO LIFE'

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on December 10, 1975.

The shield has the basic pattern of the Deben RDC arms and the device used by Woodbridge UDC - stylized blue and white waves with a chief or top layer, a pattern very suitable for a coastal authority. The waves represent the sea and the main rivers of the area - Orwell, Deben, Alde and Blyth. On the waves is an heraldic lymphad or ancient galley representing the shipping of the coast and rivers and also the boatbuilding industry. The ship is gold with pennon and flags of St. George, and recalls the ship in the arms of Deben and Aldeburgh and the East Suffolk County Council while the waves are also seen in the shield used by Felixstowe.

The chief indicates the name of the authority. Suffolk is suggested by the main emblem.of the East Suffolk County arms, the gold engrailed cross on black of the de Ufford Earls of Suffolk, seen also in Deben's crest. They had associations also with the Blyth area. The Coastal is denoted by two gold scallop shells, each with seven lobes for the seven areas. These emblems are also from the arms of the Seckfords, and are seen in the Deben crest and the Woodbridge device, and also that of Felixstowe.

The cross and scallop shells are borne on black roundels.

The crest features historic associations with the castles of Framlingham and Orford (suggested by a castle of two square towers like those of Framlingham), and with the ancient bishopric founded at Dunwich by St. Felix, (denoted by the gold mitre from the Felixstowe device). The mitre also alludes to other important monastic and ecclesiastical associations with Leiston, Felixstowe, Woodbridge and Blythburgh. A golden sun of seven rays rises from behind the castle. This suggests the dawn of a new authority from the union of seven councils, while also suggesting the easterly situation of the district.

The motto is NEW VIEWS TO LIFE from the poem The Library by local poet George Crabbe.