Crest

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One of the most beautiful in England, the arms, crest and supporters of the County Council were granted in 1938, having been designed by the then County Architect, F. Anstead Brown, as a commemoration of Coronation year and the Council's Jubilee.

The Shield displays the trio of golden wheat sheaves on blue which have been associated with the Earldom of Chester since the late 12th century. The Shield is the same as that known to have been used as the City arms of Chester in 1560 and which can be seen on the bridge at Eastgate, Chester. From 1779 this shield was occasionally used as the Chester Assay Office hallmark.

Above the Shield is the closed helm, proper to civic arms, with decorative mantling in the livery colours of blue and gold. The Crest is a royal lion between two ostrich feathers, referring to the Principality and Palatinate, upon a red mural crown alluding to Chester's sandstone walls. The feathers franking the Shield are supported by gold lions derived from the arms of the third and fourth Earls of Chester.

the cheshire coat of arms

Cheshire is the only example in the United Kingdom of the county and the county town both possessing a complete achievement of heraldic honours. The full official heraldic description of the armorial bearings is as below.

Arms: azure a sword erect between three garbs or

Crest: upon a mural crown gules, a lion statant guardant or, between two ostrich feathers argent

Supporters: on either side a lion or supporting between the forelegs an ostrich feather argent

Badge: in front of an oval wreath of oak leaves a sword erect the blade surmounted by a garb all or

Motto: jure et dignitate gladii (by the law and dignity of the sword)

 
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