Wallingford

Heraldry of the World

British heraldry portal
Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

Overseas possessions
Total pages in the British section : 16,276
Total images in the British section : 9,329

WALLINGFORD

Incorporated into : 1974 South Oxfordshire

Official blazon

Arms : Gules a Portcullis Or studded Sable chained Argent ensigned with an Ancient Crown of the second all within an Orle of Bezants.
Crest : Issuant from Water barry wavy a Port between two Towers proper.
Supporters : On either side a Knight in Armour proper wearing a Surcoat of the Arms mounted on a Horse Argent caparisoned of the Arms holding in the dexter gauntlet a Tilting Spear Sable his helmet bearing the Crest.

Origin/meaning

These arms were granted on August 23, 1955.

The portcullis has been used as the Mayor's seal for over 300 years and appears on all the Town Regalia, it is shown in gold referring to the fact that at one time there was a Royal Mint in Wallingford. The crown refers to the fact that in the time of the Plantaganets Wallingford was closely associated with royalty, being a Royal Borough. The bezants or golden roundelss are taken from the arms of the Duchy of Cornwall of which Wallingford was a part, from the time of the Black Prince until Henry VIII. There are eleven bezants, which record the century of the granting of the Charter in 1155.

The crest refers to the River Thames and the Castle.

The supporters are taken from the Knight which appears on the Common Seal of the Borough which has been in use for over 300 years.

The arms are now used by the town council.