Finding this lovely illustration, I thought I would unpack our armorial bearings.
Most people call them coats of arms, which are colourful trappings of medieval chivalry and they are still very much part of our modern world, but that is another subject.
The arms of Braintree were granted to Braintree Urban District Council on March 2, 1927.
The crossed swords are found in the Arms of the See of London. From the times of Edward the Confessor until the 16th Century, the bishops of London were lords of Braintree manor.
Two blue lions on the golden cross come from the arms of William Sainte Marie, Bishop of London, who in 1199 gained the charter to hold a weekly market from King John.
The two green lilies and three red mullets are from the Courtauld family arms in recognition of their many benefactions to the town.
The motto 'Hold to the truth' are from the arms of William Julien Courtauld in anglicised form.
The mural crown is the heraldic symbol of masonry and alludes to the new town hall, the gift of William Julien.
The arms of Bocking were granted to the town of Bocking on November 23, 1927.
The silver cross upon a blue field represents the arms of the Priory of the Holy Saviour in Canterbury. Bocking lands were granted to this priory in 1006.
The silver dolphin was the crest of William Courtenay, archbishop of Canterbury from 1381-1396.
It originates from the arms of Constantinople where an earlier Courtenay was its last emperor.
The blue dolphin was adopted as the badge of Bocking Parish Council in January 1926.
This emblem can still be seen in many places today.
The silver chevron on the blue dolphin commemorates the Dorewood family.
One member of the family endowed a chantry chaplain in 1362, another became speaker of the House of Commons and founded a hospital, now known as Bocking Almshouses.
The woolpack reminds us how important was the raising of sheep and weaving of woollen fabrics.
The Woolpack Inn stands today as a house on the corner of Woolpack Lane.
The silver fleur-de-lis is from the arms of Samuel Courtauld, grandfather of William Julien, who was also a great benefactor.
The motto 'Consilio et concordia. means by counsel and good fellowship.
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