Last modified: 2023-07-03 by
Keywords: surrey | oak leaf |
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located by Francisco Santos, 19 June 2003
According to the Surrey History Centre web page, "The design (...) is the current logo for Surrey County Council which appears on all stationery and publications. When Surrey County Council is represented at an outdoor function it is also used as a flag. The colour is green and the design of oak leaves reflects the fact that the county of Surrey contains much woodland."
Francisco Santos, 19 June 2003
located by James Frankcom, 7 October 2003
The county of Surrey has had two coats of arms. The original one with colours taken from the personal arms of the ancient Earls of Surrey I enclose. A later one was designed after 1965 when a large portion of the county was absorbed into Greater London. The later design does not include the Saxon Crown (which represents Kingston-on-Thames where an ancient stone is kept on which 10th Century English kings were crowned and before that was used by the sub-kings of Surrey) nor does it include the ermine.
James Frankcom, 7 October 2003
located by James Frankcom, 7 October 2003
The later coat of arms consists of a shield divided into halves, blue and black. The blue, and also the gold colour in the design are taken from the arms of the Warrennes, the first Earls of Surrey The black derives from the Arms of the towns of Guildford and Godalming. The interlaced gold keys which lie across the shield diagonally represent the power of the ancient Abbey of St Peter at Chertsey which once held extensive lands in Surrey. The keys form part of the Arms of the Diocese of Winchester - which used to include much of Surrey - and have also been retained in the Arms of the Diocese of Guildford. The sprig of oak symbolises Surrey's extensive rural areas and is drawn from the Badge of the FitzAlans, former Earls of Surrey. It also appears, incidentally, in the mouth of the Supporters of the Arms of the Duke of Norfolk, the present Earl of Surrey. The woolpack recalls the importance of the wool trade in medieval Surrey and acts as a reminder of the ancient wealth of the County.
Laurence Jones and James Frankcom, 13 October 2003