Maldon (Borough)

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

MALDON (Borough)

Incorporated into : 1974 Maldon (District council)

Official blazon

Party per pale Azure and Argent on the dexter side three Lions passant guardant in pale Or and on the sinister side on Waves of the Sea in base proper a Ship of one mast Sable the mast surmounted by a Fleur-de-Lys Or and from the masthead a Pennon flotant to the sinister Gules the sail furled Argent and from a Turret at the stern a Flagstaff erect surmounted by a Fleur-de-Lys Gold and therefrom a Banner to the sinister charged Azure three Lions passant guardant in pale Or.

Origin/meaning

The arms were not officially granted but recorded at the Visitations of 1614 and 1664.

The arms are derived from designs found on either side of the earliest known heraldic seal of Maldon, which date from the mid-fourteenth century.

The lions, derived from the royal arms with the field changed from red to blue for difference, recall the fact that Maldon was a Royal Borough. The ship recalls the towns ancient glory as a port and its immemorial duty to provide a ship, for the service of king and country went called upon.

The fleurs-de-lys surmounting the mast and flagstaff are also royal emblems, the English royal arms were quartered with those of France in 1340, when Edward III laid claim to the French throne. This indicates that the seal upon which the arms were based is no older than this date. Over the years the arms of Maldon have varied slightly, at the Visitation of Essex in 1569 the lions were recorded as rampant upon a red field. In other versions the lions are shown reguardant, in one they are transfixed by a lance and in another the banner on the ship shows the French royal arms.

Seal of Maldon from around 1600

Seal of Maldon from around 1682

Literature : Information taken from the Maldon website; seals from Ewe, 1972