Watford

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WATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL

Official blazon

Arms : Gules on a Pale wavy Argent between two Escallops Or a Pallet wavy Azure charged with a Fasces erect of the second on a Chief of the third a Hurt charged with a Saltire also of the third between two Harts statant of the first.
Motto: 'AUDENTIOR'

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on OCtober 16, 1922.

The blue and silver wave depicts the River Colne and its banks. It is charged with a fasces, symbol of Roman government. This represents both the Roman remains of the area and the modern local government. The scallops were taken from the arms of the Clarendon family, founders of the Clarendon Press. Lord Clarendon was the town's first mayor in 1922. On the chief are two harts to show that Watford is in Hertfordshire. Between them is a roundel of the arms of the city and diocese of St. Albans (the town is part of the diocese and was historically influenced by the city of St. Albans).

The motto is AUDENTIOR, meaning "with greater boldness" and is taken from Virgil's Aeniad.