Whitby

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WHITBY (Urban District Council)

Incorporated into : 1974 Scarborough

Official blazon

Arms : Barry wavy of ten argent and azure, three serpents coiled proper.
Crest : On a wreath of the colours, in front of an anchor sable, three roses, two and one, argent, barbed and seeded proper.
Motto : Fuimus et sumus

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on July 3, 1935.

The arms show three curled snakes (previsously shown as ammonites). According to legend Abbess Hilda of Whitby Abbey rounded up the serpents that swarmed around the abbey. She hurled them from the cliffs, where they lost their heads and turned into stones. The ammonites actually are 190 million year old fossils, which can be found in the area.

The motto means We have been and we are.