Finsbury

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FINSBURY

Incorporated into: 1965 Islington

Official blazon

Arms: Gules on a Cross Argent a Fountain between in pale two Torteaux each charged with a Crescent of the second and in fesse as many Annulets of the first on a Chief embattled Or a Port between two Towers of the field.
Crest: On a Wreath of the Colours a dexter Cubit Arm erased proper holding an Escutcheon Argent charged with a Cross Gules between four Scimitars fessewise also proper Pommels and Hilts to the dexter Or.
Supporters: On the dexter side a winged Bull Argent gorged with a Collar flory counter flory Azure and on the sinister side a Dolphin Vert charged with a Plate thereon a Well proper.
Motto: 'ALTIORA PETIMUS' - We seek higher things

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on May 7, 1931

The white cross in the lower half is the Cross of St. John, the headquarters of the Order of St John are situated in the borough. The fountain symbolises the springs at Clerkenwell, the Clerk’s Well and the Sadler’s Wells – the latter now the site of the Metropolitan waterworks and the world-famous Sadlers Wells dance theatre. The four red circles, with the crescents, indicate the arms of Thomas Sutton, the founder of the Charterhouse. The embattlement has reference to the city wall, as forming the southern boundary of the borough. The gateway suggest the old gate from London into the borough. The escutcheon on the crest contains charges from the arms used ini the past for St. Sepulchre. The two supporters are the symbols of St. Luke (bull) and St. James. The badge with the well is the Clerk's Well.