The Elmbridge Coat of Arms

The Elmbridge Coat of Arms What is it’s Meaning?

The Shield concentrates on the theme of Elmbridge in Surrey, composed of two authorities. It is divided by an inverted V, suggested by the d'Abernon chevron in the Esher arms, into blue and gold - the livery colours of the de Warenne Earls of Surrey, the Surrey County Council, and both the constituent Councils. On the blue portions are two white sprigs of oak, depicted very much as they are in the Surrey Council arms, signifying two Surrey authorities On the gold portion is the main content of the shield, an elm on a bridge over water, epitomi~ing the new Borough's name. This is the name of the ancient Hundred of Elmbridge which covered a large area of this part of Surrey. (The Hundred of Elmbridge is also represented by an elm tree in the arms of the former Borough of Surbiton, now incorporated in Kingston upon Thames.) The bridge is not intended for any particular one of those in the Borough; it has two arches symbolising the union of two authorities and stands over four waves representing the rivers Thames, Mole, Wey and Ember, alternately blue and white. Above the shield is the closed helm proper to civic arms, with its twisted crest-wreath and mantling in the basic colours of the shield, blue and gold. On the wroath stands the crest. At the base is the gold Saxon crown from the crest of Walton and Weybridge, recalling the Saxon Hundred of Elmbridge, whose Moot was held at the bridge over the Mole. In the crown is a mound representing Esher Common, on which stands the white griffin from the Esher arms, derived from the arms of Evelyn of Wotton, Cardinal Wolsey and Heed of Oatlands. He holds aloft a forked pennon showing on a blue field a nine pointed star symbolising the union of nine civil parishes in the new Borough.

The star is gold, harmonising with the basic colour scheme. The Supporters combine the white eagle from the Esher shield and the red The Shield concentrates on the theme of Elmbridge one from that of Walton in Surrey, composed of two authorities. It is dividand Weybridge. In the former, it is taken from the ed by an inverted V, suggested by the d'Abernon arms of Merton Priory, chevron in the Esher large landowners in Molesey for four centuries; in arms, into blue and the latter it is a reference to gold ours of the de Warenne the Roman associations of the area and in particular to Caesar's Camp and the Earls of Surrey, the legendary attempt of CaeSurrey County Counsar to cross the Thames at Cowey Sales. cil, and both the conThese eagles are shown stituent Councils. On the blue portions are perched on sprigs of elm, each with two leaves for the two areas of Elmbridge, two white sprigs of oak, depicted very and in- the 'beak of each is the Tudor rose from the Walton and Weybridge much as they are in the arms, a reference to many Surrey Council arms, links with that era, including Oatlands, Ashley Park and Wayneflete Tower. signifying two Surrey The Badge is a separate emblem, usually related to authorities On the gold portion is the main the arms, but not placed on a shield. The badge of Surrey County Council, for example, is a disc parted blue and black, like the shield and combining content of the shield, King Edward's crown and the acorn badge, also an elm on a bridge from the shield. It has many special uses, including that of an Elmbridge community emblem in this over water, epitocase, which can be displayed by local organisami~ing the new Bortions, whereas the arms are the exclusive property of the Council. Elmbridge's badge is a simple oval ough's name. This is of gold with the Elmbridge motif from the shield. the name of the ancient Hundred of Elmbridge which covered a large area Motto: "Dum Defluant Amnes"' : "Till the rivers cease to flow." of this part of Surrey. (The Hundred of Elmbridge is also represented by an elm tree in the arms of the former Borough of Surbiton, now incorporated in The Coat of Arms and description are reproduced with the kind permission of Elmbridge Borough Council Kingston upon Thames.) The bridge is not intended for any particular one of those in the Borough; it has two arches symbolising the union of two authorities and stands over four Please mention Walton Matters when waves representing the rivers Thames, Mole, Wey responding to adverts and Ember, alternately blue and white.