Farnham

Heraldry of the World

British heraldry portal
Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

Overseas possessions
Total pages in the British section : 15,938
Total images in the British section : 9,638

FARNHAM (urban district council)

Incorporated into : 1974 Waverley

Official blazon

Arms : Vert a Castle with three towers Or on a Chief Argent a Mitre of the first garnished of the second between a Sprig of Oak and a Sprig of Hop both fructed of the field.
Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours, in front of a Stag's Head affrontée proper issuant from six Ears of Wheat fesswise three to the dexter and three to the sinister Or a stone headed Axe also proper and a Pastoral Staff Gold in saltire.
Motto : 'BY WORTH'

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on October 11, 1950.

The Castle represents the stronghold built at Farnham in the twelf^th century by Henri du Blois, Bishop of Winchester, and the mitre and pastoral staff allude to the town's long associations with the Sees of Winchester and Guildford. The green field, the stag's head, and the oak refer to the parks and woodlands of the district, while the ears of wheat stand for agriculture, and the sprig of hops for produce for which Farnham was formerly famous. The stone axe refers to the prehistory of the district.

The motto By Worth is taken from the name of one of the town's benefactors, John Byworth. A clothier by trade, he presented the town in 1623 with the Byworth Cup.

The arms are now used by the town council.