Braintree
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 Civic heraldry of the United Kingdom |
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BRAINTREE
Additions: 1934 Bocking; 1974 Braintree RDC, Braintree and Bocking UDC, Halstead RDC, Halstead UDC, Witham UDC
Official blazon
Arms : Gules a Pale Or between two Seaxes in pale points upward Argent hilts pommels and quillons Or over all a Fess wavy Argent charged with a Bar wavy Sable in chief a Lion rampant Azure a like Lion in base.
Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours on a Mount Vert in front of a Garb Or a Boar passant Azure crined and unguled Or supporting with the dexter fore-hoof a Maltese Cross Gules.
Supporters : On either side a Lion Sable gorged with a Riband Argent pendent therefrom by a Ring a Mullet Argent surmounted of a Pentagon Or fimbriated and charged with a Fleur-de-Lys Vert and holding in the month a Shuttle erect threaded proper.
Motto: 'BY WISDOM AND FORESIGHT'
Origin/meaning
The arms were officially granted on October 15, 1974.
The shield is derived from the arms of the two Braintree Councils (Rural and Urban) and the Essex County Council. The two saxon swords or seaxes are the arms of the County Council. The blue lions are from the Braintree Urban District Arms and represent William de Sante Maris Bishop of London and the Lord of the Manor of Braintree in the 12th Century. The black wave edged with white represents the rivers Blackwater, Brain and CoIne.
The crest is based on that of the Halstead Urban District. The wheatsheaf on the grassy mound shows the importance of agriculture. The blue boar Is from the crest of the deVeres - a powerful Halstead family. The red Maltese crest represents the Templars who held the manor at Witham.
The supporters are the black lions of Flanders alluding to the settlements of Flemish weavers in the area. They hold shuttles in their mouths. Round their neck are the white star badges of the deVeres with the green Fleurs-de-Lis.
 The arms on a village sign (source) |
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© since 1995, Heraldry of the World, Ralf Hartemink 
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