Tonbridge and Malling

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

TONBRIDGE AND MALLING

Additions : 1974 Malling RDC, Tonbridge RDC (partly), Tonbridge UDC

Official blazon

Arms : Argent a Pale wavy Azure between two Piles reversed Sable a Chief embattled Gules.
Crest : On a Wreath Argent and Gules issuing from the top of a Tower Gules a Horse's Head Argent gorged with two Garlands of Hops saltirewise proper.
Motto : 'FORWARD IN UNISON'

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on March 12, 1976.

The blue pale and red chief together make a letter T, while the two black iles on white suggest a letter M. Thus the initial letters of the council's name are depicted. The embattled chief also represents the great bridge of Tonbridge, while the wavy pale shows the River Medway.

The crest wreath and mantling are in the red and white colours of Kent County Council. The crest shows the head of the famous white horse of Kent, wreathed with hop branches, traditional crop of the county. The tower from which the head rises stands for the district's many ancient monuments.

Literature : Image taken from here. Information provided by Lawrence Jones