Burton-upon-Trent

Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

BURTON-UPON-TRENT

Incorporated into : 1974 East Staffordshire

Official blazon

Arms : Barry wavy of six argent and azure; on a chief gules an eagle displayed of the first between two fleurs-de-lys Or.
Crest : Out of a mural crown Or, a dexter hand proper grasping a lozenge azure charged with a saltire argent.
Motto : 'HONOR ALIT ARTIS'.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted in 1878 and changed on April 26, 1928.

Burton upon Trent Municipal Borough was formed in 1878 and was comprised of Burton, Burton Extra (Bond End), Horninglow, Stapenhill and Winshill though each retained their existing civil parish. A coat-of-arms was sought to commemorate the new Borough.

The new Burton upon Trent County Borough was granted a coat of arms by Norroy, King of Arms at the College of Arms after its incorporation in 1878 depicted the spread eagle from the Paget family arms, fleur-de-lys from those of the Bass family. The two wavy blue lines represent the rivers Trent and Dove, which meet near Burton. The motto ‘Honor Alit Artes’ is a quotation by Roman Statesman, Cicero, meaning ‘Honour Sustains the Arts’.

The 1878 arms as used on a JaJa postcard +/- 1905

The arms on a medallion from 1887 to commemorate the jubilee of Queen Victoria

In 1928 a crest was added, which included a hand holding the saltire of Saint Andrew as an allusion to the early medieval chapel on Andresey island founded by Saint Modwen.