Wells

Heraldry of the World

British heraldry portal
Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

Overseas possessions
Total pages in the British section : 15,933
Total images in the British section : 9,634

WELLS (borough)

Incorporated into : 1974 Mendip

Official blazon

Arms : Argent, in base a mount vert, thereon an ash tree proper between three wells gules; the shield ensigned by a mural crown Or.
Motto: Hoc fonte derivata copia.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted August 23, 1951.

The arms are based on unauthorized insignia previously used. The wells of course refer to the name of the City and the tree, seems to be derived from that on an old seal, which depicted a tree with a stream springing from its roots.

The motto is a shortened form of one formerly used, namely: Hoc fonte derivata copia in patriam populumque fluit - 'Wealth, drawn from this spring, flows forth unto our country and our people.' This is a paraphrase of a passage from Horace, Ode 6, Book III.

The arms as used on a JaJa postcard +/- 1905	The arms on a Wills's cigarette card, 1906
The arms on a 1904 postcard	The arms in the Coffee Hag albums +/- 1935