North West Leicestershire

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NORTH WEST LEICESTERSHIRE

Additions : 1974 Ashby-de-la-Zouch UDC, Ashby-de-la Zouch RDC, Ashby Woulds UDC, Castle Donington RDC, Coalville UDC,Market Bosworth RDC (partly)

Official blazon

Arms : Per chevron Argent and Sable in chief two Ash Trees couped and in base on a Granite Rock issuant proper a Castle of three towers Argent on a Chief Vert between two Garbs a Mitre affrontée Or charged with two Crosses formy Gules.
Crest : On a Wreath Argent Sable and Vert, within a Circlet of six Lozenges conjoined Sable Flames proper issuant therefrom a demi-Lion Or gorged with a Collar Gules bezanty and holding a Hexagon Argent charged with a Maunch Sable.
Motto : 'EX TERRA OPES'-From the earth wealth

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on OCtober 30, 1974

The shield symbolises the topographical area and its background through heraldic references to its six former constituent authorities. It is divided into an area of green, suggesting agriculture, white and black, indicating coal mining. On the green chief are the two sheaves from the chief of Coalville's arms and those of former Ashby-de-la-Zouch R.D.C., emphasising the agriculture of the rural areas. Between them is a gold mitre charged with two red crosses from the arms of Archbishop Laud, an historical reference to Ibstock with which he was associated. On the white are two ash trees indicating the Ashby districts, and in the base, against the black portion, is the white castle common to the former Ashby-de-la-Zouch U.D.C. and Castle Donington R.D.C. arms upon a rock suggesting Charnwood ("rock for est").

The crest alludes to the characteristic main industries and to the historical background of the area. At the base is a circlet of lozenges or "black diamonds", like those in the crest of Coalville, indicating the mining of coal. Within these rise flames suggesting the fire-clay working and brick-making industries. From this base rises the rest of the crest derived from the heraldry of three of the most ancient families of the Midlands, connected with several of the constituent areas. The gold lion is that of the Beaumonts (the former Ashby-de-la- Zouch R.D.C. and Coalville); round its neck is a red collar charged with gold roundels from the shield of the Lords Zouch (the Ashbys), and in its fore claws is held a white hexagon charged with the black "maunch" (sleeve) of the Hastings family (Coalville, the former Ashby-de-la-Zouch U.D.C. and Castle Donington R.D.C.). The hexagon suggests a union of six authorities.

The Motto "EX TERRA OPES" epitomises the whole District's industrial development from its mineral and agricultural assets.