Watford

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

WATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL

Official blazon

Arms : Gules on a Pale wavy Argent between two Escallops Or a Pallet wavy Azure charged with a Fasces erect of the second on a Chief of the third a Hurt charged with a Saltire also of the third between two Harts statant of the first.
Motto: 'AUDENTIOR'

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on OCtober 16, 1922.

The blue and silver wave depicts the River Colne and its banks. It is charged with a fasces, symbol of Roman government. This represents both the Roman remains of the area and the modern local government. The scallops were taken from the arms of the Clarendon family, founders of the Clarendon Press. Lord Clarendon was the town's first mayor in 1922. On the chief are two harts to show that Watford is in Hertfordshire. Between them is a roundel of the arms of the City of St. Albans, long associated with the area.

The motto is AUDENTIOR, meaning "with greater boldness" and is taken from Virgil's Aeniad.

The arms as used on a JaJa postcard +/- 1905

Literature : Image and information provided by Laurence Jones (laurencejones@eircom.net)