Nithsdale

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NITHSDALE (District Council)

Additions : 1975 Dumfries, Sanquhar, Districts of Dumfries, Eastern Kirkcudbright, Thornhill, Upper Nithsdale
Incorporated into : 1996 Dumfries and Galloway

Official blazon

Argent, a double-headed eagle displayed Sable, beaked and membered Gules, surmounted of an escutcheon of the First charged with a saltire of the Second and surcharged in the centre with a hurcheon Or, within a bordure of the Third charged with five estoiles of the Fourth; on a chief wavy Azure, an endorse of the Fourth between dexter, the demi-figure of the Archangel Michael, wings expanded, brandishing in his dexter hand a sword all Proper and on his sinister arm an escutcheon of the First charged with a cross of the Third; and sinister, on a rock in base Proper, a double-leaved gate of the Third, triple towered, on an ascent of five steps flanked by two towers all of the First, towers arch-roofed and masoned of the Second, vanes of the Third.

Above the Shield is placed a coronet appropriate to a statutory District, videlicet:-a circlet richly chased, from which are issuant eight thistle-heads (three and two halves visible) Or; and in an Escrol under the Shield this Motto Reviresco .

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on September 23, 1976.

The arms show in the upper part elements taken from the arms of Dumfries (St. Michael) and Sanquhar (castle).

The lower half shows the arms of Maxwell, Earl of Nithsdale, with a double headed eagle, bearing a small shield with a saltire and in the middle a hedgehog. The hedgehog is a symbol for the Herries branch of the family. The bordure is based on the arms of the Burgh of Dumfries.

The motto "Reviresco" (I flourish again) is taken from the Maxwells and the burgh of Maxwelltown (incorporated into Dumfries in 1931).