Bacup

Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

BACUP

Incorporated into : 1974 Rossendale

Official blazon

Arms : Azure on a Fesse between two Bales of Cotton in chief Or and a Block of Stone with Lewis attached in base proper a Fleece Sable between two Bees volant of the third in the centre chief point a Squirrel sejant of the second.
Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours in front of a Bale of Cotton Or a Stag [proper] gorged with a Collar Vair and resting the dexter forefoot on a Trefoil slipped Gold.
Motto : 'HONOR ET INDUSTRIA' - Honour and industry

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on March 13, 1883.

The arms are fairly typical of grants to Victorian industrial towns. The bees stand for industry in general, the fleece and the cotton bales for textile manufacture, and the block of stone for quarrying. The squirrel and stag in the crest both allude to the old Forest of Rossendale that once covered the area.