Sudbury

Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

SUDBURY (Borough and town council)

Incorporated into : 1974 Babergh

Official blazon

Arms : Sable a Talbot sejant Argent on a Chief Gules a Lion passant guardant between two Fleurs-de-Lis Or.
Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours a Talbot's Head erased Or between two Ostrich Feathers erect Argent.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on September 20, 1576.

The talbot is from the arms of the Sudbury or Sudberry family, and is said to have been adopted in particular reference to Simon of Sudbury, in the fourteenth century successively Bishop of London, Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England. Simon, a native of Sudbury, was a benefactor of the town, and it was natural that the townsmen should remember him when obtaining arms; but Burke credits him with a different coat, namely: Silver, on a blue cross a gold crowned M.

The lion, fleur-de-lis and ostrich feathers are of a royal character.

The talbot's head in the crest is sometimes represented as red or sometimes as black.