MEDINA BOROUGH COUNCIL |
ARMS: No information currently available. Motto 'FLOREAT MEDINA'- May Medina prosper. The Borough of Medina was formed by the amalgamation of the Borough of Newport, the Borough of Ryde and the Cowes Urban District. It was abolished on 1st April 1995, when a single Isle of Wight Council replaced the Island's county council and two district councils Picture and information from Heraldry of the World. |
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The basis of the shield is the arms, and ultimately the seal, of the Borough of Newport, whose old name of Medina is perpetuated in that of the river and the new Borough. The simple design of a blue shield with an ancient gold ship with white sail on stylised waves has been the arms of Newport for at least 350 years, and is appropriate for the whole new area since the ship is indicative of the character of Ryde and Cowes, which also had a ship in their arms and device respectively. As a necessary difference, a gold embattled chief has been added, the crenellations suggesting the castles of Carisbrooke and Cowes. The three blue anchors on gold, seen in the Isle of Wight County Council crest, indicate the three ports combined in the new Borough. Thus the shield denotes the Borough of Medina consisting of three ports. |
NEWPORT BOROUGH COUNCIL |
ARMS: Azure on Water barry wavy in base proper an ancient Ship Or the sail Argent at the tip of the bowspit and at right angles thereto a Cross formy fitchy of the last. Recorded at the Visitation of 1622. Picture from British History Online. |
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The arms, which were never offically granted, are based on the town's the thirteenth century seal. They were however recorded at one of the Visitations and bear a ship with one mast, the sail spread and the cross on the bowspit. |
RYDE BOROUGH COUNCIL |
ARMS: Argent in base on Waves of the Sea a Schooner Yacht under sail proper within a Bordure Azure charged with eight Estoiles Or. Motto 'AMOENITAS, SALUBRITAS, URBANITAS' - Delightful, Healthful and Refined. |
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The significance of the gold estoiles on blue is unknown, but it is possible that they were suggested bt those in the arms of Portsmouth, which faces Ryde across Spithead. They may represent starfish, which along with the other elements are appropriate for a seaside town and resort. |
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