Coat of Arms
Southend-on-sea
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Armorial Bearings of the County Borough explained
The
Abbey
in
Cluny,
in
France,
founded
by
a
sect
of
the
Benedictine
Order
of
Monks
in
the
tenth
century,
established
a
settlement
in
England,
including
the
Cluniac
Priory
of
St.
Mary,
Prittlewell,
which
had
a
great
influence
over
this
district.
The
seal
of
the
Priory
contains
a
Lily
Pot,
the
emblem
of
the
Virgin,
and
representing
the
Mother
Parish
of
St.
Mary,
Prittlewell.
The
Lily
Pot
therefore
forms
the
central
feature
of
the
Arms
in
the
shield
and
is
shown
on
a
silver
“pile”
(i.e.,
the
white
triangular
background
in
the
centre
of
the
shield).
The
rest
of
the
background
is
blue,
indicative
of
the
Sea.
In
the
middle
of
the
shield
to
the
left
is
a
golden
anchor,
the
emblem
of
St.
Clement,
the
Patron
Saint
of
Leigh.
To
the
right
is
a
golden
gridiron,
the
emblem
of
St.
Lawrence,
the
Patron
Saint
of
Eastwood.
At
the
bottom
of
the
shield
is
a
golden
trefoil,
the
emblem
of
Holy
Trinity,
the
Parish
Church
of
Southchurch.
The
Supporters,
or
figures
supporting
the
shield,
are
on
the
left
a
medieval
fisherman,
trailing
a
net
with
his
right
hand,
and
on
the
right
a
bearded
Monk
of
the
Cluniac
Order,
holding
a
red
book
in
his
right
hand
and
a
staff
in
his
left
hand,
and
these
were
chosen
because
it
was
largely
due
to
the efforts of these two classes of men that the place first distinguished itself.
The
Crest,
placed
above
the
shield
is
all
in
red,
and
represents
a
ship’s
mast
coming
out
of
of
a
mural
crown,
and
flying
an
early
English flag, containing the Cross of St. George, England’s Patron Saint.
A
“mural
crown”
is
a
coronet
made
of
masonry
to
represent
the
walls
of
a
City,
and
is
an
honourable
distinction,
associated
with
Crests of several Cities and Towns.
The
motto
“Per
Mare
Per
Ecclesiam”
translated
“By
the
Sea
and
by
the
Church”
recognises
that
the
importance
and
growth
of
the
County Borough are due to these two great influences.
The Livery Colours of Southend-on-Sea are Blue and Silver.
The Arms and Crest were granted by Letters Patent dated 1st 5th January , George V, 1915.
The Supporters were granted by Letters Patent dated 2nd 5th January, George V, 1915.
The
background
is
normally
blue, indicative of the Sea
Lily
Pot,
the
emblem
of
the
Virgin,
and
representing
the
Mother
Parish
of
St.
Mary, Prittlewell
Golden
anchor,
the
emblem
of
St.
Clement,
the
Patron
Saint of Leigh
Medieval
fisherman,
trailing
a net with his right hand
Golden
gridiron,
the
emblem
of
St.
Lawrence,
the
Patron
Saint of Eastwood
Bearded
Monk
of
the
Cluniac
Order,
holding
a
red
book
in
his
right
hand
and a staff in his left hand
Golden
trefoil,
the
emblem
of
Holy
Trinity,
the
Parish
Church of Southchurch
The
motto
“Per
Mare
Per
Ecclesiam”
translated
“By
the
Sea
and
by
the
Church”
A
“mural
crown”
is
a
coronet
made
of
masonry
to
represent
the
walls
of
a
City
The
Crest,
a
ship’s
mast
coming
out of of a mural crown
Early
English
flag,
containing
the
Cross
of
St.
George,
England’s
Patron Saint
Shield
Coat of Arms on the entrance wall to the Civic Centre
Southend-on-Sea
and
the
motto
“Per
Mare
Per
Ecclesiam”
on
side
entrance doors to the Civic building
Flag Staff in the grounds of the Civic Centre
Silver “pile”
Close-up of the Coat of Arms on the entrance wall to the Civic Centre
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