Cockenzie and Port Seton

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

COCKENZIE AND PORT SETON (Burgh)

Incorporated into : 1975 East Lothian (District Council)

Official blazon

Gules, on the waves of the sea undy Argent and Azure, a one-masted ship in full sail Proper; on a chief Or, three crescents of the field. Above the Shield is placed a coronet suitable to a Burgh of Barony (videlicet: Gules masoned Argent) and in an Escrol below the same this Motto "Hazard Yet Forward".

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on February 9, 1943 and crown changed on February 7, 1958.

Cockenzie and Port Seton grew from the villa of Seton granted by King Robert I in 1321 to Sir Alexander Seton, the famous Governor of Berwick. In 1591 Cockenzie was created a Burgh of Barony in favour of Robert, 6th Lord Seton, and in 1686, the Burgh of Cockenzie alias Port Seton was raised to a Burgh of Regality (to be called Winton) in favour of George, 4th Earl of Winton.

Using the gold and red colours from the Seton arms, the arms also show Seton crescents in the chief to denote the Burgh's connection with the Seton family and the Earls of Winton. The ship stands for the port and the shipping interests of the town. The motto is one of those used by the Earls of Winton.

Literature : Urquhart, 1974