Tavistock Coat of Arms

Tavistock crest

 

The Tavistock Coat of Arms - What does it all mean?

 

The coat of arms is displayed on a shield, with the earliest known representation in 1684. In the language of heraldry the description or blazon reads:

‘Per pale. gules and azure; a fleece banded; a chief, dexter a lion passant gardent, sinister a fleur-de-lys, all or. ‘

Pale is the central line of the shield.

The coloured backgrounds on either side of the pale are gules (red) for military bravery and azure (blue) for loyalty.

Fleece banded refers to the wool trade, one of the major sources of Tavistock’s wealth.

Chief refers to the uppermost part of the shield.

On the right hand side (viewer’s left), dexter the lion’s leg is raised to show motion, passant, and his face is turned as he is watchful, gardant.

On the left hand side (viewer’s right) of the shield, sinister, the fleur-de-lys can be interpreted as a symbol of a French connection or of Our Lady, who shared the dedication of Tavistock Abbey with St. Rumon.

All three symbols appear in or, meaning gold.

The Town Motto:

CRESCIT SUB PONDERE VIRTUS

VIRTUE FLOURISHES UNDER A BURDEN'