Halifax (Yorkshire)

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

HALIFAX

Incorporated into : 1974 : Calderdale

Official blazon

Arms : Chequy Or and Azure a Man's bearded Face affrontée [the eyes closed] surrounded by a Halo proper.
Crest : Issuant from a Saxon Crown Or a Mount Vert thereon a Paschal Lamb proper holding a Staff Gold flying therefrom a split Pennon Argent charged with a Cross Gules; Mantled Azure doubled Or.
Supporters : On either side a lion Or holding with the interior paw a Rose Argent barbed seeded stalked and leaved proper.
Motto : 'EXCEPT THE LORD KEEP THE CITY'

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on April 12, 1948.

The arms were based on the previous arms, used by the borough since the middle of the 19^th century, see image below. The arms show the face of St. John Baptist, which is a canting element (Holy-face, Halez Fax). His symbol, the Agnus Dei, is shown on the crest. St. John was also the parton saint of the wool merchants, and in medieval times Halifax was an important wool trading centre. St. John thus was an appropriate saint for the town. The chequered field is taken from the arms of the Earls Warenne, who held the town in Norman times. The Saxon crown in the crest indicates that the town has been in possession of Edward the Confessor. The supporters are the British lion, holdin a rose for the West Yorkshire county.

The motto 'Except the Lord keep the city' was taken from Psalm CXXVII.

The previous arms were nearly identical, but never officially granted. The motto is the same, but in Latin.

The arms as used on a JaJa postcard +/- 1905	The arms as used on a Faulkner postcard +/- 1905
The arms on a Wills's cigarette card, 1906	The arms in the Coffee Hag albums +/- 1925

Literature : New image from http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk, Scott-Giles, 1953