Alyth

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ALYTH

Burgh

Incorporated into : 1975 Perth and Kinross District Council (1996 Perth and Kinross Area Council)

Official blazon

Vert, on a cross quadrate Argent, a lion rampant guardant Gules, crowned with an open crown Or.

Above the Shield is placed a coronet appropriate to a Burgh of Barony (that is Gules masoned Argent) and in an Escrol below the Shield this Motto "A Licht Abune".

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on October 15, 1948, motto added on May 21, 1962.

Alyth was created a burgh of Barony in 1488.

The arms are based on the old seal of the Burgh. The green field is for agriculture, Alyth being in good farming country, and the silver cross quadrate is for the Mercat Cross which was shown on the seal. The fact that the Cross bore the initials JEA (James, 2nd Earl of Airlie) is denoted by the Ogilvy crowned lion on its silver field.

The arms were re-matriculated in 1962 so that a motto could be added. "A Licht Abune" was suggested because (i) Alicht was the medieval spelling of Alyth; (ii) Alyth stands in the Grampian foothills and is seen as a light above to travellers in Strathmore; (iii) the words have educational and religious meanings. At the same time, the Burghal coronet granted in 1948 was altered to the red and silver coronet of a Burgh of Barony.

Seal of the burgh as used in the 1890s

Community Council

Official blazon

Vert, on a cross quadrate Argent, a lion rampant guardant Gules, crowned with an open crown Or.

Above the Shield is placed a Coronet appropriate to a statutory Community Council, videlicet:- a circlet richly chased from which are issuant four thistle leaves (one and two halves visible) and four pine cones (two visible) Or, and in an Escrol below the same this Motto "A Licht Abune".