Cannock

Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom

CANNOCK

Incorporated into: 1974 Cannock Chase

Official blazon

Arms : Barry of eight Vert and Sable a Stag's Head caboshed between in chief an Ancient Crown of Fleurs-de-Lis Or and in base a Cross potent quadrate Argent.
Crest : Out of a Circlet Vert issuant from Flames an Oak Tree fructed proper the trunk enfiled with a Stafford Knot Or.
Motto : 'LABOR IN VENATU' - Work in the Chase

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on February 20, 1951.

The green and black bars indicate the coal seams beneath Cannock Chase and the stag's head and crown recalls the old Royal Forest. The cross, of the form, associated with St. Chad, is from the arms of the Bishoprics of Lichfield and Coventry. The Bishops of the then united See purchased the Manor of Cannock from Richard I, and enjoyed many privileges in the Chase.

The green circlet represents Castle Ring, an Iron Age earthwork, and the flames allude to the industies of the area. They also represent in conjunction with the oak tree, the destruction of the forest for smelting before the discovery of the coal seams.

The motto, a quotation from Horace, meant in its original context "exertion in the hunt", but is equally well translated as "Work in the Chase", which sums up Cannock's activities as an important industrial town in a former Royal Forest and Chase.