MAIDENHEAD BOROUGH COUNCIL

ARMS: Azure three Pallets wavy Argent issuant from a Bridge of as many arches in chief Or.
CREST: On a Wreath of the Colours a Maiden's Head affrontée proper ensigned by a Mullet Azure and charged on the neck with a Saltire couped Gules.
SUPPORTERS: On the dexter side a representation of St. Andrew and on the sinister a rep­resentation of St. Mary Magdalene both proper.

Motto 'JEWEL OF THE THAMES'.
Granted 21st May 1947.

maidenhead bc arms

The shield depicts a bridge over the River Thames. The present bridge at Maidenhead was built in 1772-7, but the river has been bridged at this point for nearly seven centuries, and this link in the ancient high­way between London and the west has been an important factor in the growth of the town.
The crest forms a rebus or heraldic pun on the name-form Maidenhead, which began to come into use in the seventeenth century. From 1612 till the grant of arms in 1947, Borough documents were sealed with the seal of a foreign ecclesiastic, one John Godayn, a canon of Thiers in Auvergne. This seal dates from pre-Reformation times and one likes to think that one of the Wardens of the Guild, out of which the Maidenhead Corporation was founded, was in some way connected with the collegiate church of Thiers. The seal consists, besides the legend round it, of a stylized priest's head. This head might easily be mistaken for a woman's and in later reproduction, notably in the jewel attached to the Mayor's Chain, it certainly became feminized. And so a maiden's head is now the officially recognised Crest of the Borough.
The supporters refer to the "The Overseer, Wardens, Brethren and Sisters of the Fraternity or Guild of St. Andrew and St. Mary Magdalene, of Maidenhuth", which was formed in 1451. A purpose of this Guild, in addition to its religious duties, was "the continual reparation and keeping up of the bridge over the Thames". Here is the start of the corporate life of Maidenhead and its historic significance is recognised in the town's supporters.


NEW WINDSOR ROYAL BOROUGH COUNCIL

ARMS: Per fesse Argent and Vert a Stag's Head caboshed of the first in chief between the attires Sable an Escutcheon of France Modern and England quarterly in base a Castle Wall with three Towers also Argent in the central tower a open Port with Portcullis raised Or.

Arms entered (without tinctures) at the Visitation of 1532; Confirmed with tinctures at the Visitation of 1566; certified painting supplied by Richmond Herald in 1947.

new windsor bc arms

The castle is, of course, a reference to Windsor's famous royal fortress, and the stag's head recalls that the Windsor Great Park around the town formed a hunting ground for the Norman kings. The shield depicts the old 1405-1603 Royal Arms and is appropriate as New Windsor is a Royal Borough.


WINDSOR RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL

ARMS: Vert on a Fess wavy Argent between in chief two Acorns slipped and leaved and in base a Horseshoe (Racing Plate) Or two Barrulets wavy Azure.
CREST: On a Wreath of the Colours out of a circlet of Park Palings Argent a demi Hart Royal proper unguled and attired Or between two sprigs of Azalea stalked and leaved Vert and flowered Gold.

Motto 'IN COUNSEL IS STABILITY'.
Granted 1st December 1962.

windsor rdc arms

The green background is for the rural character of the district and the acorns are for the forest land there. The wavy blue and white lines represent the River Thames, and in base, the gold horse shoe (or racing plate) recalls Royal Ascot and the Ascot Race Course.
The palings and demi stag refer to Windsor Great Park. The two azalea sprigs show a prolific and almost indigenous plant of the district.
The motto is an appropriate quotation from Bacon's Essays.


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