Coat-of-Arms Click here to go back to A-Z page
The Grange-over-Sands coat of arms is used on official Town Council notepaper, and also exists on various signs and plaques around the town. Most notably on the sign at the entrance to the town when coming from Lindale.
Its specification is as follows :
It isn't entirely certain where the coat-of-arms actually came from. The only reference held by Grange Town Council is that "The Grange-over-Sands Coat of Arms (which was worked out in detail by the Heralds’ College) was designed by the Rev. George Shillito, M.A., Minister of the Congregational Church from 1933 to 1945 and at one time Chairman of the Council."
However, this doesn't tell the entire story, as much of the coat-of-arms was already associated with Grange-over-Sands in the Edwardian era as the postcards below show. The changes relate to the colouring design of the shield, and the addition of the motto and crest.
I have contacted the Herald's College (College of Arms) to see if I could find any further information, and their response was: A "A search in our records has shown, rather surprisingly, that Grange-over-Sands was never formally granted a coat of arms. I do not know what informal involvement anyone here might have had in the design of the coat of arms you sent me, or who Mr Shillito (or his predecessors) may have dealt with here; but any involvement on our side would have been intended to lead to a formal grant of arms to the council, and evidently this never happened. Unless granted by the heraldic authorities or directly by the Crown, a coat of arms has no legal existence as such. Sadly, that being the case, I cannot give you any information on the correct or official version of the arms, since there is no official version."
Its specification is as follows :
- Crest - a three masted ship with full bellied sails. A ship in heraldry symbolises a remarkable Expedition by sea. The ship is also called a symbol of life, where the bearer's course can be determined. This is an odd thing to have, as although Grange was originally a small village with fishing, there isn't much connection to three-masted schooners so far as I am aware.
- Shield - top part, three silver cockle shells on a golden field. Shells symbolises protection of providence; a successful leader; or one who has made long journeys. However, I suspect that the inclusion on the town coat-of-arms more prosaically reflects the cockling history of the area.
- Shield - lower part, field of red and blue, mounting a golden lion rampant. The colours have no specific meaning, and a lion is a common charge in heraldry. It traditionally symbolises courage, nobility, royalty, strength, stateliness and valour, because historically it has been regarded as the "king of beasts".
- Motto - “Quaecunque Amabilia Cogitate”, translates literally as “Think on that which is beautiful” or more simply “Surrounded by beauty”. Or “Things that are beautiful - Think on these things”
It isn't entirely certain where the coat-of-arms actually came from. The only reference held by Grange Town Council is that "The Grange-over-Sands Coat of Arms (which was worked out in detail by the Heralds’ College) was designed by the Rev. George Shillito, M.A., Minister of the Congregational Church from 1933 to 1945 and at one time Chairman of the Council."
However, this doesn't tell the entire story, as much of the coat-of-arms was already associated with Grange-over-Sands in the Edwardian era as the postcards below show. The changes relate to the colouring design of the shield, and the addition of the motto and crest.
I have contacted the Herald's College (College of Arms) to see if I could find any further information, and their response was: A "A search in our records has shown, rather surprisingly, that Grange-over-Sands was never formally granted a coat of arms. I do not know what informal involvement anyone here might have had in the design of the coat of arms you sent me, or who Mr Shillito (or his predecessors) may have dealt with here; but any involvement on our side would have been intended to lead to a formal grant of arms to the council, and evidently this never happened. Unless granted by the heraldic authorities or directly by the Crown, a coat of arms has no legal existence as such. Sadly, that being the case, I cannot give you any information on the correct or official version of the arms, since there is no official version."