MEDINA BOROUGH COUNCIL

ARMS: No information currently available.
CREST: No information currently available.
SUPPORTERS: No information currently available.

Motto 'FLOREAT MEDINA'- May Medina prosper.
Granted on 24th October 1976.

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.

medina bc arms

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.
The wreath and mantling are in the basic colours of the shield, blue and gold. These are the livery colours of the de Redvers Earls of Devon, who granted the Borough of Medina its first Charter. The heraldic sea-horse sitting on its rock, if from the crest of the Borough of Ryde, which is also a supporter of the Isle of Wight arms. As in the Ryde crest, it is charged with two gold stars, but has been given wings, thus making it a perfect symbol for the Hovercraft which is such an important feature of the modern Ryde. The sea-horse has been coloured all blue to accord with the general colour scheme and to match the supporters.
The sea-horse supports a staff from which flies a forked pennon of the national arms of England, the red cross of St. George on white. This recalls many associations with national institutions and figures, and is the basis of the shield used by Cowes and also the burgee of the Royal Yacht Squadron. The supporters are derived from the blue lion of the de Redvers Earls of Devon, lords of the Isle of Wight and of Medina for many generations. The last de Redvers, Isabella, one of the heiresses of William de Redvers or de Vernon, married the Earl of Albemarle (de Fortibus) and became Countess of Albemarle, Countess of Devon, and lastly of the Isle of Wight, keeping an almot royal court at Carisbrooke and granting many privileges to Medina. The lions are turned into heraldic sea-lions, like the sea-horses in the crest, and, again for necessary difference, they each wear a gold collar in the shape of the initial letter M, and an ancient gold crown of fleur-de-lis. This emphasises the many close links with the Crown for centuries, especially in the person of Queen Victoria, who died at Osborne, her seaside home at Cowes, where she lived for many years.


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.

newport bc seal

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.
CREST: On a Wreath of the Colours upon a Rock a Sea-Horse proper charged on the body with two Estoiles Or.

Motto 'AMOENITAS, SALUBRITAS, URBANITAS' - Delightful, Healthful and Refined.
Granted 18th February 1869.

ryde bc arms

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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