Hereford and Worcester

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HEREFORD AND WORCESTER

Additions: 1974 Herefordshire (county), Worcester (city), Worcestershire (county, partly)
Incorporated into: 1996 Herefordshire (unitary district), Worcestershire (county)

Official blazon

Arms : Gules a Fess wavy Argent charged with a Bar wavy Azure between in chief three Bezants on each a Pear Sable and in base a Herefordshire Bull's Head caboshed proper.
Crest : Statant upon a Mural Crown a bi-corporate Lion Or holding a Pear Sable; Mantled Gules doubled Argent.
Supporters : a Compartment per pale a Ploughed Field and a Grassy Mount proper to the dexter a Talbot Argent gorged with a Collar Or charged with Apples proper to the sinister a Lion guardant Or gorged with a Wreath of Hops fructed proper.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on June 26, 1978.

The black pears upon bezants against a red background were taken from the arms of the Worcestershire County Council. These might be taken as an allusion to the social, intellectual and material wealth of the area. The white and blue wavy lines represent the rivers Severn and Wye. The bull's head was taken from the arms of the Herefordshire County Council.

The mural crown is a common civic emblem and the bi-corporate lion represents the union of the two former counties. The pear echoes those in the shield.

The talbot and lion are derived from the former Herefordshire supporters. The apples and hops together with the compartment comprising a ploughed field and grassy area may be taken as an allusion to the general agricultural nature of the area.